Oklahoma football: Sooners’ all-time offensive unit
The Oklahoma Sooners have one of the biggest and most impressive brands in college football and among the most in terms of on-field success. Over the years, the Sooners have stockpiled talent that matches any other program in the country. However, if you could take any sooner from any era and form an All-Time team, who would you choose? Today we will look at the offensive side of all the ball. There will be plenty to choose from as no program has scored more points or been more on the cutting edge of offense than the Oklahoma Sooners.
Offense
QB: Baker Mayfield 2015-2017
Oklahoma was not trending in the right direction in recent seasons when Baker came to town and contributed immediately to turning things back around. As the OU starter, the Sooners won three consecutive Big 12 titles and went to two CFPs. He won the Heisman, among other awards, in 2017. Mayfield was the #1 overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft, where he broke the passing TD record in just 13 starts. Mayfield was recently traded to the Carolina Panthers, where he will continue his promising young career.
RB1: Adrian Peterson 2004-2006
Peterson ran for 1000 yards or more in his three seasons at Oklahoma. As a freshman, he finished 2nd in the Heisman Trophy voting. Peterson would be Oklahoma’s all-time leading rusher if it had not been for a collarbone injury, and the margin may not be close. Adrian was the 7th overall pick in the 2007 NFL draft. He has not officially retired but is quickly going to be a first-ballot Hall of Famer five years from his last snap. Peterson is currently 5th all-time in NFL history with 14,918 yards and 4th in rushing touchdowns with 120. He won league MVP in 2012 after just 9 yards short of breaking Erik Dickerson’s single-season rushing record.
RB2: Billy Sims 1975-1979
Billy Sims being RB2 is probably the most blasphemous thing I have typed to this point. But I mean, so would placing Peterson as RB2. OU has a great history in the position. Sims was unbelievable, winning a Heisman trophy in 1978 and finishing second for the award in ’79. Sims is the Sooners 2nd all-time leader in rushing yards and held the top title until 2016, when Samaje Perine eclipsed his mark. Only fellow Heisman winner Steve Owens has scored more rushing touchdowns as well. Billy was well on his way to a Hall of Fame NFL career when he suffered a career-ending injury five seasons in. Sims was a three-time Pro Bowler in five NFL seasons, registering 5106 rushing yards and 42 touchdowns in just 60 career games. Sims also had more than 2000 receiving yards and five touchdowns as a do-it-all back for the Detroit Lions, who drafted him 1st overall in the 198 NFL Draft.
WR1: CeeDee Lamb 2017-2019
Ceedee Lamb was the best wide receiver I have ever seen at Oklahoma. He had it all; the ability to make you miss, tough to tackle, can run by you. Anything you could do, Ceedee could do better, and he outworked everybody. Lamb was a first-team All-American in 2019, and many believed they should have won the Biletnikoff Award. He was one of the lone bright spots in an otherwise frustrating College Football Playoff defeat to Alabama, where Lamb torched future first-rounder Pat Surtain Jr. The three QBs he had were Baker Mayfield. Kyler Murray and Jalen Hurts, so you can’t feel too bad for the current Dallas Cowboy. Lamb was taken in the 2020 NFL draft slipping to 17th for the Cowboys, who could not believe he was there. Mike McCarthy and Jerry Jones were caught laughing at their good fortune on a camera. Lamb is one of the league’s premier young pass catchers, ranking in the top 10 among all wide receivers according to Pro Football Focus.
WR2: Ryan Broyles 2008-2011
Broyles is the Sooner’s all-time leader in receiving yards, receptions, and touchdown grabs. He has the lead in each by an extensive margin. For a time, Ryan Broyles held the NCAA record for receptions, which was later broken. Broyles was so important than in the 2011 season when he was lost to injury against Texas A& M, QB Landry Jones did not throw a touchdown pass over the final three regular season games. Broyles was that impactful in the passing game. Ryan was a two-time All-American and, in 2012, was a 2nd round draft pick of the Detroit Lions. Unfortunately, Broyles could not get over the injury bug, and his pro career was underwhelming. However, Ryan did not let that deter his life success, becoming a real-estate guru.
Sterling Shepard 2012-2015
Shepard was the prodigy who grew up in the program his father once played for. Bob Stoops loved Sterling and always had him around from a young age. Eventually, it became clear that the former Sooner’s son was a chip off the old block. Shepard was an immediate impact as a freshman. Shepard played with a long list of QBs during his career, starting with Landry Jones, then Trevor Knight, Blake Bell, and Cody Thomas. Then in 2015, in his final season, he had Baker Mayfield. The two had considerable chemistry from the sweet deep ball he caught vs. Baylor or the corner fade against Tennessee. Or the play dubbed “Shepard’s dive,” which was the game-winning score for Oklahoma in overtime in Knoxville. The Giants drafted Shepard in the 2nd round of the 2016 NFL draft. He has not been a superstar, but he has been a quality player and a consistent contributor. His situation was not ideal, but Shepard was a perfect teammate.
TE: Keith Jackson 1984-1987
This may have been the toughest one for me to only do one with because Jermaine Gresham and Mark Andrews deserve some love. But Keith Jackson was the man for several decades and still is. Jackson was a three-time All-Pro, six-time pro bowler, and a Super Bowl Champion. At Oklahoma, he was two time 1st team All-American. He has not yet been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. I would imagine he eventually makes it in.
LT: Trent Williams 2006-2009
Trent Williams may become the greatest football player to ever don the crimson and cream. Williams is a clear-cut future first-ballot Hall of Fame left tackle in the NFL. He was just as exceptional in college. Williams was a unanimous All-American in 2009 and was equally good in 2008 despite not getting the same recognition. Trent would go number 4 overall to the Washington Redskins. He currently plays for the San Fransico 49ers and is viewed by most as the best offensive lineman in the NFL.
RT: Ralph Neely 1962-1964
Neely is the most decorated offensive lineman in Oklahoma history to this point. He is a member of the NFL’s all-decade team for1960s. He was a four-time All-Pro, and will eventually make it into the Pro Football Hall of Fame even though he somehow has been left out so far. He won two Super Bowls with the Dallas Cowboys. In college, he was a unanimous All-American selection in 1964. He was taken in the 2nd round in the AFL and NFL draft. The Colts traded their rights to him to the Dallas Cowboys, where he played his entire pro career.
C: Creed Humprhey 2017-2020
Humphrey was a prodigy as a center, and it was apparent immediately. Reports in camp as a true freshman were that he might beat out senior Erick Wren. He did not; however, as a redshirt freshman, he was arguably the best player on the offensive line that won the Joe Moore Award, given to the nation’s top offensive line. Creed was a two-time Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the year. He ended up being a second-round pick for the Kansas City Chiefs. Pro Football Focus graded his rookie season, and he was the best center in the NFL according to the service.
OG: Greg Roberts 1975-1978
Roberts was an All-American in 1978 and won the Outland Trophy given to the nation’s best interior player. Greg was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and played three years in the NFL before playing a season in the USFL. Roberts was a dominant force for Oklahoma and their powerful wishbone rushing attack.
OG: Anthony Phillips 1984-1988
Phillips was one of three Sooners to be named to the academic and athletic All-Big 12 all four seasons of his career. Two-time All-American, getting consensus honors in 1988. Phillips would go on to be drafted by the Chicago Bears in the 12th round of the NFL draft. Unfortunately, with all his injuries his senior year, he chose to retire from football before his rookie season began. A Jenks native, he is currently the Vice President of Business Development for Bank of Oklahoma.