Stormin in Norman
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Oklahoma football: Top-10 Sooner football recruits (2000-present)

By Brandon Self

Dec 28, 2019; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; View of the eye tape on Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (2) before the 2019 Peach Bowl college football playoff semifinal game between the LSU Tigers and the Oklahoma Sooners at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 28, 2019; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; View of the eye tape on Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (2) before the 2019 Peach Bowl college football playoff semifinal game between the LSU Tigers and the Oklahoma Sooners at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /
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1. Adrian Peterson – Running back – Recruiting class of 2004.

Sep 9, 2006; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners running back (28) Adrian Peterson during pregame warm ups against the Washington Huskies at Memorial Stadium, Norman, OK. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 9, 2006; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners running back (28) Adrian Peterson during pregame warm ups against the Washington Huskies at Memorial Stadium, Norman, OK. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports /

You knew this was coming, right? This has Michael Jordan-ish argument vibes. Every time you debate who the best basketball player of all time is, you’re really discussing who’s number two because there’s no question about number one. The same applies to AD.

Peterson came to Norman in 2004 from Palestine, Texas, where he was the consensus number one player in the nation according to all recruiting services known to man (I will cite 247Sports, though). To this day, Peterson’s high school rating is still the highest rating ever given to a recruit. His impact in Norman was immediate. Peterson’s freshman season saw him rush his way to a unanimous first-team All-American selection behind a 1,843-yard, 15 touchdown campaign.

Peterson was the first-ever freshman finalist for the Doak Walker Award (nation’s top RB). He finished his career at OU with 4,041 rushing yards (5.4 avg.) and 41 rushing touchdowns… in just 31 games! Every year Peterson was in Norman, he was named to the first team All-Big 12 list, and in 2004, his freshman year, he was named the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year and Offensive Player of  the year. In one of the biggest shambles in Heisman history, Peterson finished second to USC’s Matt Leinart in 2004.

His 2005 and 2006 seasons were hampered by injuries, but he was still dominant when on the field. For example, in 2006, Peterson only played in seven games due to a collarbone fracture following a 53-yard touchdown run. He finished that seven-game season with 1,012 yards and 12 touchdowns. Had he not broken his collarbone, another artwork would be on Heisman Row in Norman.

Peterson was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the first round of the 2007 NFL Draft. Although he may not have a statue on Jenkins Ave., he will have a bust in Canton. Peterson finished his pro career with 14,918 rushing yards, 120 rushing touchdowns, 305 receptions for 2,474 yards, and six touchdowns. His pro accolades include 2012 NFL MVP, 3-time NFL rushing leader, most 200 plus-yard rushing games (6), most 50 plus- yard runs in a single game (7-tied with Barry Sanders), and the NFL’s single-game rushing record (296). He was named to the Pro Bowl seven times, All-Pro seven times, Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2007, and a member of the NFL’s 2010 All-Decade team. As we said, Michael Jordan-ish type argument.

And for any non-Sooner fan or any new Sooner fan… it’s AD… NOT AP.

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