There’s been a lot of great football played at Oklahoma in the last 25 years thanks to some incredible players.
The last quarter century started with the Sooners’ last national championship in 2000 under Bob Stoops and with Brent Venables as co-defensive coordinator. Boy have things changed, yet not really.
The past 25 years have also included four Heisman Trophy winners, all of which were quarterbacks in Jason White, Sam Bradford, Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray. That gives this assignment a tough decision right off the bat.
With the 2025 college football season about to kick off and this quarter century coming to a close, I assembled the Oklahoma Sooners All-Quarter Century Team using the best OU players from the past 25 years.
Oklahoma Sooners All-Quarter Century Team
QB: Baker Mayfield
Usually a Heisman Trophy winner would be a lock for any program's all-anything team. Well, the Sooners have four here, not to mention another QB that led them to a national title.
But there's just something special about Baker Mayfield. He started his career as a walk-on before winning a Heisman Trophy in 2017, winning three Big 12 titles and led the Sooners to the College Football Playoff twice. Had he played in the BCS era, there's a good chance Mayfield would have played in at least one national championship game. And he also planted the flag at Ohio Stadium. He's the stuff of legends.
However, the likes of Josh Heupel, Jason White, Sam Bradford, Kyler Murray and even Jalen Hurts would be the best QB from the last 25 years for most college football programs.
RB: Adrian Peterson
They say Adrian Peterson could had skipped college and had success in the NFL as a freshman. He was the Heisman runner-up as a freshman and was a finalist alongside his quarterback, Jason White. Peterson went on to be not only one of the best running backs in OU history, but in college football history.
WR: Hollywood Brown, Ryan Broyles, CeeDee Lamb, Sterling Shepard, Dede Westbrook
This was another loaded position for the Sooners so needed a set with five wide (although my heart said Malcolm Kelly). Ryan Broyles broke the all-time FBS career receptions record. Hollywood Brown and CeeDee Lamb helped create Baker and Kyler. Sterling Shepard was as reliable as they come. And Dede Westbrook had one of the best seasons from a receiver college football has ever seen in 2016 as a Heisman finalist and Biletnikoff Award winner.
TE: Mark Andrews
Mark Andrews won the Mackey Award as the best tight end in college football in 2017, even while sharing a field with CeeDee Lamb and Hollywood Brown.
OL: Trent Williams, Davin Joseph, Creed Humphrey, Ben Powers, Lane Johnson
No one is getting through that frontline. All went onto careers in the NFL and four were named an All-American at some point in his career at least once.
DE: Frank Alexander, Dan Cody
Both of these dudes were relentless coming off the edge. Frank Alexander was Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year in 2011 and led the conference with 8.5 sacks. Dan Cody was a two-time All-American and part of the 2000 national championship team.
DT: Tommie Harris, Gerald McCoy
Tommie Harris won the Lombardi Award in 2003 and was a two-time consensus All-American. Gerald McCoy is a Sooner legend as a two-time All-American.
LB: Rufus Alexander, Rocky Calmus, Teddy Lehman
Just like that famous 2000 defense, Rocky Calmus would be the rock of this unit too. Calmus and Teddy Lehman won the Bednarik and Butkus Award in back-to-back seasons. Rufus Alexander was also a First-Team All-American, Butkus finalist and 2006 Big 12 Defensive player of the Year.
CB: Aaron Colvin, Derrick Strait
Aaron Colvin was All-Big 12 twice and staple on Bob Stoops' defense. Derrick Strait won the Thorpe and Nagurski Awards while part of the national championship team.
FS: Quentin Carter
Quentin Carter was All-Big 12 twice and was a consensus All-American as a senior.
SS: Roy Williams
Roy Wiliams also won the Thorpe and Nagurski Awards in 2001. He also won Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year that season. But he really became a legend with his "Superman" play in the Red River Shootout.
With the Red River Showdown today, it seemed fitting to celebrate the 17-year anniversary of Roy Williams' "Superman tackle." pic.twitter.com/5os2GGtUCB
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) October 6, 2018
Read more about OU football