ADRIAN PETERSON
There was no better player on Oklahoma’s roster from 2004-2006 than Adrian Peterson. There was no better high school player in 2003, either.
Recruiting rankings started in the early 2000s. Oklahoma had just won its first national championship in 15 years in 2000 and fielded elite teams from 2001-2003. That sequence culminated in the Sooners’ signing of the No. 1 recruit of the 2004 recruiting class, Peterson.
Back then, the famous story was Oklahoma told him, “We are going to win either with you or without,” speech. And it worked out in the Sooners’ favor.
Peterson became a Heisman finalist and consensus All-American as a freshman, rushing for 1,925 and 15 touchdowns in 2004. The next two years were filled with injuries for the Palestine, Texas, native, but he still reached 1,000 yards rushing in 11 games in 2005 and in seven games in 2006.
The former Oklahoma great is still chugging along in the NFL. Peterson is in his 14th season playing running back and is with the Detroit Lions. He was named the 2007 NFL AP Offensive Rookie of the Year, the 2012 NFL MVP, named to seven Pro Bowls and four first-team All Pro teams. Peterson is fifth on the NFL all-time rushing leaderboard (14,660 yards) and fourth on the NFL all-time rushing touchdown leaderboard (115).