Oklahoma football: Ranking the Top-7 Sooner RBs of all-time

KANSAS CITY, MO - DECEMBER 4: Adrian Peterson #28 of the University of Oklahoma Sooners carries the ball against the University of Colorado Buffaloes in the Big 12 Championship game on December 4, 2004 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. Oklahoma defeated Colorado 42-3 to win the Big XII Championship. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) /

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No. 6 — Billy Vessels

Billy Vessels was the first Heisman Trophy winner for the University of Oklahoma. The Cleveland, Oklahoma, native kept developing under Bud Wilkinson and had a senior season that won him the Heisman. In 1952, Vessels rushed for 1,072 yards, and found paydirt 18 times. Throughout his OU tenure, he rushed for 2,153 yards, which ranks 25th in OU history.

Vessel’s most memorable performance came in 1950 against the University of Texas. With 4:45 remaining, Vessels turned in a touchdown run that gave the Sooners a 14-13 lead and ended up being the deciding factor. “Curly,” as they called him, turned his 1952 campaign into an All-American season, and led the Sooners to an 8-1-1 record. Vessels would later be selected with the No. 2 overall pick in the 1953 NFL Draft.

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