Oklahoma football: Mount Rushmore 10 of Sooner GOATS of modern era

KEYSTONE, SOUTH DAKOTA - JULY 02: The busts of U.S. presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln tower over the Black Hills at Mount Rushmore National Monument on July 02, 2020 near Keystone, South Dakota. President Donald Trump is expected to visit the monument and speak before the start of a fireworks display on July 3. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
KEYSTONE, SOUTH DAKOTA - JULY 02: The busts of U.S. presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln tower over the Black Hills at Mount Rushmore National Monument on July 02, 2020 near Keystone, South Dakota. President Donald Trump is expected to visit the monument and speak before the start of a fireworks display on July 3. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) /
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Oct 14, 2006; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners running back (28) Adrian Peterson runs the ball for a 53 yard fourth quarter touchdown against Iowa State Cyclones linebacker (15) Alvin Bowen at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. The Sooners beat the Cyclones 34-9. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports © copyright Matthew Emmons
Oct 14, 2006; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners running back (28) Adrian Peterson runs the ball for a 53 yard fourth quarter touchdown against Iowa State Cyclones linebacker (15) Alvin Bowen at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. The Sooners beat the Cyclones 34-9. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports © copyright Matthew Emmons /

No. 7 — RB Adrian Peterson

Adrian Peterson was one of the most prized recruits in the nation when he signed with the Sooners as part of the class of 2004. To make things even more rewarding from an Oklahoma perspective, Peterson chose OU over his home-state school Texas.

Peterson, also known by the nickname “AD” — given to him by his father because he was so active as a youth and could run all day long — lived up to all the expectations that preceded him to OU. As a freshman in 2005, he rushed for 100 or more yards in each of his first nine games and ended the season with an NCAA freshman-record 1,925 yards. He finished second in the Heisman voting that season, the first freshman to finish that high in the Heisman balloting.

Peterson battled injuries his sophomore and junior seasons at OU, but still finished with more than 1,000 yards rushing in both 2005 and 2006. His 4,045 career rushing yards as a Sooner are the fourth most all-time by an OU player, and his 22 100-yard rushing games stands as second best in school history.

The player named AD will go down as one of the best college running backs ever and perhaps the best player never to win the Heisman.