Tag: Samaje Perine

Cincinnati Bengals signal bigger role for RB Samaje Perine in 2021

The Cincinnati Bengals appear to have big plans for RB Samaje Perine.

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Running down the list of guys who could have a bigger role with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2021, running back Samaje Perine isn’t the first to come to mind.

And yet here we are.

The Bengals hit Perine with a multi-year contract extension this offseason and later cut Giovani Bernard for cap purposes.

Let director of player personnel Duke Tobin tell it, the veteran is on his way to a bigger role.

“I think we feel good about the guys we have in the barn. I think Samaje’s role is going to grow and I think he earned that last year,” Tobin said, according to Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com. “I think we’ve got some belief in Trayveon as well. Whether there will be an addition beyond that, we’ll see as we go.”

Perine was a waiver claim by the Bengals in 2019, then brought back before last season. He was apparently one of the team’s harder cuts to make because they like his game and locker room presence.

Last year over 16 games, Perine only had 63 rushing attempts, yet had 301 yards and three scores. He caught 11 of his 12 targets through the air, too.

On paper, the Bengals won’t draft a running back until very late. Joe Mixon is the lead man, Perine is right there in the rotation and they still like the upside of Trayveon Williams.

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Big 12 Conference’s all-time leading rushers

A look at the top 10 rushers in Big 12 history

The Big 12 Conference is known for offense, but mostly from a passing standpoint with its air raid offenses. The conference has had its fair share of notable running backs across the board. Continue reading “Big 12 Conference’s all-time leading rushers”

Tunnel Vision of Week 16

Tunnel Vision – a look back at Sunday for fantasy free agents, injuries and notable performances.

SUNDAY SALUTES
Quarterbacks Pass-Rush TD
Tom Brady 348 4
 Deshaun Watson 324-38 3
 Andy Dalton 377-15 3
 Mitchell Trubisky 265-10 3
Aaron Rodgers 231-19 4
Running Backs Yards TD
Alvin Kamara 22-155
3-17		 6
Myles Gaskin 14-87
5-82		 2
Samaje Perine 13-95
4-41		 2
David Johnson 12-128
3-11		 2
Jeffery Wilson 22-183
1-21		 1
Wide Receivers Yards TD
Mike Evans 10-181 2
Michael Gallup 6-121 2
Jamison Crowder 7-92
1-43 pass		 2
Brandin Cooks 7-141 1
Nelson Agholor 5-155 1
Tight Ends Yards TD
Irv Smith Jr. 6-53 2
Jimmy Graham 4-69 2
Travis Kelce 7-98 1
Rob Gronkowski 2-58 2
Darren Waller 5-112 0
Placekickers XP FG
Jason Sanders 2 4
Mike Badgley 1 4
Greg Zuerlein 4 3
Daniel Carlson 1 4
Austin Seibert 4 3
Defense Sck-TO TD
Buccaneers 4-2 0
Panthers 3-4 1
Seahawks 3-1 0
Lions 2-0 1
49ers 2-2 0

Bumps, Bruises and Bowouts

QB Matt Stafford (DET) – Ankle
QB Kyler Murray (ARI) – Leg
QB Deshaun Watson (HOU) – Arm
QB Jared Goff (LAR) – Thumb
RB J.K. Dobbins (BAL) – Chest
RB Chase Edmonds (ARI) – Hip
RB Darrell Henderson (LAR) – Ankle
RB Frank Gore (NYJ) – Chest
WR Sammy Watkins (KC) – Calf
WR Jakeen Grant (MIA) – Ankle
WR K.J. Hamler (DEN) – Concussion
TE Dallas Goedert (PHI) – Calf

Chasing Ambulances

QB Matt Stafford (DET)  – Stafford keeps getting knocked out of games and this time it was an ankle sprain. It is reported to be minor,  and he may play in Week 17. He already said that he would play the final game if possible and there is a chance that it would be his final game in Detroit if trade rumors end up being true.

QB Kyler Murray (ARI) – Had his leg whipped in the loss to the 49ers but initial evaluations were that it wasn’t serious. HC Kliff Kingsbury hasn’t officially given an update yet which will be later this week.

QB Deshaun Watson (HOU) – His arm was awkwardly bent backward on a pass play when he was hit as he threw the ball. He his was stuck in the facemask of the defender as he went by. He did return to the field for one more pass but his arm will undergo further examination to ensure that he did not damage it.

QB Jared Goff (LAR) – Early word is that Goff broke the thumb on his passing hand when it hit a defender’s helmet after a pass. There are concerns that he will miss the critical matchup with the Cardinals this week if not even more time. John Wolford is the backup quarterback. He was a free agent rookie in 2018 that played for the Arizona Hotshots in the AAF league.

RB J.K. Dobbins (BAL) – Had his chest  injured in the third quarter of the win over the Giants on a hard tackle and was held out of rest of the game. He wasn’t needed so they could have just been protective of their primary running back. There should be more clarity after Monday.

RB Darrell Henderson (LAR) – Left the loss to the Seahawks after injuring his ankle and never returned. He limped off the field. With Cam Akers already out with a high-ankle sprain, the Rams are down to only Malcolm Brown and practice squadder Xavier Jones.

Free Agents, Flops and Other Notables

TE Irv Smith Jr. (MIN) – The second-year tight end is stepping up into a bigger role. He caught six passes for 53 yards and two scores in the loss to the Saints this week, which gives him five touchdowns over his last five games.

RB Ke’Shawn Vaughn (TB) – Ran for 62 yards on 15 carries and caught a seven-yard pass. Leonard Fournette signed a one-year deal and is expected to sign elsewhere so Vaughn should step into the No. 2 role behind Ronald Jones next year.

RB Jeff Wilson (SF) – Ran for a career-high 183 yards on 22 rushes in the win over the Cardinals. He added a 21-yard catch for a touchdown. No other back ran more than twice. The 49ers like their committee and Wilson is making a case to remain part of the rotation even when Raheem Mostert is healthy – which has not been that often this year.

QB Taylor Heinicke (WAS) – Dwayne Haskin is likely to have plenty of time for the strip club since he’s likely played his last for the Football Team. Haskin was benched after throwing for 154 yards and two interceptions as Washington fell behind 20-0 against the visiting Panthers. Heinicke came into the game and completed 12-of-19 for 137 yards and one score. If Alex Smith remains out in Week 17, Heinicke is likely to be the starter.

RB Myles Gaskin (MIA) – He returned from a two-game absence on the COVID-list and was reported to share the workload with Salvon Ahmed who has impressed when given the opportunity. But Ahmed only carried six times for two yards while Gaskin led the Dolphins with 14 carries for 87 yards, and was also their leading receiver with five catches for 82 yards and two touchdowns. Cannot imagine that running back will be considered a need in the offseason.

RB Samaje Perine (CIN) – The fourth-year journeyman back logged a career-best 95 yards on 13 carries with two touchdowns and four receptions for 41 yards. Perine was given a longer look to help the Bengals make decisions in the offseason and he responded well, although they played the Texans.  He’ll face the Ravens next week which will be more telling.

WR Curtis Samuel (CAR) – Led the Panthers with a career-best 106 yards on five catches in the win in Washington and he was also the leading rusher with a career-high 52 yards on seven carries. The former second-round pick in 2018 had been a disappointment but has fourished in HC Matt Rhule’s new offense.

RB Dare Ogunbowale (JAC) – Replaced James Robinson against the Bears and ran for 71 yards on 14 carries. He added three catches for seven yards. Playing at the Colts will be tougher if Robinson remains out, but Ogunbowale gets the benefit of the defense not caring as much about the rushing offense during the second half when the Jaguars are falling further behind.

RB Darrell Williams (KC) – With Clyde Edwards-Helaire out, the expectation was that Le’Veon Bell would take over as the primary back and potentially be a big asset. But Bell only ran for 30 yards on seven carries and caught a single pass for nine yards. Williams ran ten times for 46 yards and caught four passes for 27 yards. Same split backfield and Bell was still the No. 2 back.

QB Justin Herbert (LAC) – He passed for 253 yards and one score in the win over the Broncos. That totaled 28 touchdowns which is a new all-time rookie record, surpassing Baker Mayfield’s 27.

WR Ja’Marcus Bradley (CLE) – The Browns lost all of the wideouts on their active roster to the COVID list, and called up Bradley from the practice squad. He caught 5-of-11 targets for 60 yards as the second best receiver for the Browns behind only Austin Hooper. Baker Mayfield did not shy away from him during his debut.

RB Jonathan Taylor (IND) – Not sure how it works in 2021 if Marlon Mack returns, but Taylor has responded well when used as a full-time workhorse. He ran for 74 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries at the Steelers and that gives him five touchdowns and 307 rushing yards over his last three games.

TE Travis Kelce (KC) – Caught seven passes for 98 yards and a touchdown in the win over the Falcons. That gives him 1,416 yards in the season for the most by any tight end in NFL history. And he has one more game to play.

WR DeSean Jackson (PHI) – He was finally activated from injured reserve and caught just one pass at the Cowboys – an 81-yard touchdown in the first quarter. He never had another target but showed his vintage bomb-catching ability in his first game back.

RB AJ Dillon (GB) – The Packers second-round rookie saw minimal use in the  seven previous games that he was active.  He spent time on the COVID-19 list. Jamaal Williams missed this week with a thigh injury and Dillon was expected to provide relief carries for Aaron Jones. But the 6-0, 247-pound back proved an effective weapon in the snowy conditions in Green Bay on Sunday night. Jones gained 94 yards on ten carries but the rookie ended with 124 yards and two touchdowns on his 21 carries. He added a five-yard catch. On a cold, sloppy field, the powerback brings a new element to the backfield.

QB Jalen Hurts (PHI) – Passed for 338 yards and ran for 63 yards in the loss in Dallas. Combined with Week 15, he joins Michael Vick as the only quarterbacks with back-to-back games of 300 passing yards and 50 rushing yards.

NFL Playoffs

AFC

14-1 Chiefs First-round bye
12-3 Steelers won the North
11-3 Bills won the East

There are five teams that are 10-5 and only four more spots.

Titans, Ravens, Browns, Dolphins, Colts

NFC

12-3 Packers lead for No. 1 seed
11-4 Saints won South
11-4 Seahawks won West
10-5 Buccaneers will be a wildcard

NFC East will be either the 6-9 Football Team, 6-9 Cowboys, or 5-10 Giants. Division winner advances, the other two drop out.

The final two NFC wildcards will be either

9-6 Rams
8-7 Bears
8-7 Cardinals

Huddle player of the week

Alvin Kamara  –  It was amazing enough to happen at all and for Week 16 when fantasy championships are being earned? Kamara ran for 155 yards on 22 carries and an astounding six touchdowns – it could have been seven but they let Taysom Hill run one in for some reason. Kamara also added three catches for 17 yards in one of the best fantasy performances of all time. Sadly, not every Kamara owner was in their league championship and the performance was wasted.

Salute!

Drama 101 – Somebody has to laugh, somebody has to cry

Comedy Yards TDs Tragedy Yards TDs
QB Andy Dalton 377-15 3 QB Drew Brees 311-(-3) 0
RB Myles Gaskin 14-87
5-82		 2 RB Josh Jacobs 13-69 0
RB Samaje Perine 13-95
5-82		 2 RB Melvin Gordon 16-79 0
WR Michael Gallup 6-121 2 WR D.J. Moore 5-37 0
WR Nelson Agholor 5-155 1 WR DK Metcalf 6-59 0
WR Sterling Shepard 9-77 1 WR DeAndre Hopkins 8-48 0
TE Irv Smith 6-53 2 TE T.J. Hockenson 4-23 0
PK Jason Sanders   2 XP   4 FG PK Younghoe Koo   2 XP
Huddle Fantasy Points = 217 Huddle Fantasy Points = 66

Now get back to work…

Former Oklahoma DE Amani Bledsoe signs with Cincinnati Bengals

Former Oklahoma DE Amani Bledsoe is back on an NFL roster after signing with the Cincinnati Bengals, the team announced on Monday. 

Former Oklahoma DE Amani Bledsoe is back on an NFL roster after signing with the Cincinnati Bengals, the team announced on Monday.

Bledsoe signed with the Tennessee Titans as an undrafted free agent out of college. He spent one full season on their practice squad before being waived on July 26.

Less than a month later, he’s back on an NFL roster, joining former Sooners Joe Mixon, Samaje Perine, Jermaine Gresham, Jordan Evans and Rodney Anderson in Cincinnati.

Bledsoe tallied 58 tackles, 8.5 TFL, 8 deflections and 4 sacks while at OU from 2016-18.

247Sports rated him as a four-star prospect out of high school. He was also the No. 8 strong-side defensive end in his class, and the No. 2 player out of Kansas.

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Oklahoma’s Samaje Perine waived by the Miami Dolphins

Oklahoma’s all-time leading rusher has had another setback in his NFL career. Samaje Perine was waived for the third time on Sunday.

Oklahoma’s all-time leading rusher has had another setback in his NFL career.

Samaje Perine’s 4,122 rushing yards during his career for the Sooners etched his name atop the leaderboards for running backs. He was able to accomplish that in three seasons from 2014-16 before foregoing his senior season for the NFL, but things haven’t hit the ground running for Perine in the league.

The Miami Dolphins announced on Sunday that they waived the former Oklahoma running back from their roster.

Perine was drafted by Washington in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL Draft. He started in eight games his rookie season and playing in all 10 games, but only rushed for only 3.4 yards per carry in the 2017 season. Perine suffered two injuries in the 2018 season before Washington waived him before the 2019 season.

The Cincinnati Bengals claimed him off waivers after Washington waived him. He was on the active roster and practice squad during his time in Cincinnati, but was waived in Oct. of the 2019 season. The Miami Dolphins signed him at the end of the 2019 season before waiving him today.

During his career at Oklahoma, Perine set the NCAA single-game rushing record with 427 yards against Kansas—a mark that hasn’t been touched since. Him and back-to-back 1,000 yard rusher for the Bengals, Joe Mixon, became one of the premier one-two punches in college football in 2015-16.
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Bill Bedenbaugh, Alex Grinch named among top-15 assistant coaches in college football

A list recently released by 247sports has two Oklahoma coaches listed among the top 15 assistant coaches in the nation.

When it comes to quality coaching and development, no one quite does it like Oklahoma’s Bill Bedenbaugh and Alex Grinch.

A list recently released by 247sports has the Sooners’ coaches listed among the top-15 assistant coaches in the nation.

Lincoln Riley gets most of the credit for Oklahoma’s offense, but Bedenbaugh is owed his fair share. As the Sooners co-offensive coordinator and offensive line coach, Bedenbaugh has helped carry on the power-run game that Oklahoma has used to dominate for decades.

Bedenbaugh has helped mold several linemen into NFL prospects in recent years. Cody Ford, Orlando Brown, Bobby Evans, Ben Powers, Dru Samia, and Daryl Williams are all the current Sooners in the NFL that were coached by Bedenbaugh. Rodney Anderson, Samaje Perine and Joe Mixon are current RB’s to have lined up behind his unit.

Alex Grinch has helped the Sooners tremendously is his first season, just as he did Washington State. Grinch improved the Sooners total defense ranking from 101 in 2018, to No. 64 in 2019. While his turnover greedy ways didn’t quite catch on in year one, the mentality switch was visible.

Under Grinch, Kenneth Murray and Neville Gallimore are participating in this year’s NFL Combine and are considered top prospects in this year’s draft. Parnell Motley was snubbed from the NFL Combine, but could hear his name called in the NFL Draft as well.

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The best Oklahoma sports moments of the decade

The 2010s held a lot of success for Oklahoma’s athletic program. With 12 national championships, seven football conference titles…

The 2010s held a lot of success for Oklahoma’s athletic program. With 12 national championships, seven football conference titles, two Heisman Trophy winners, a men’s Final Four appearance and four College Football Playoff appearances, the Sooners have had one of the most successful and balanced athletic programs of the decade.

SAMAJE PERINE’S 427 GAME–2014

The greatest rushing performance in college football history took place on a cold, rainy day in Norman when Samaje Perine put the Sooners on his back, rushing for 427 yards breaking Wisconsin’s Melvin Gordon’s record one week after Gordon broke LaDainian Tomlinson’s record of 407 yards.

BAKER MAYFIELD’S FLAG PLANT–2017

Maybe the most iconic moment in Oklahoma football history, Baker Mayfield’s flag plant at Ohio State was one of the most controversial moments of his 2017 Heisman Trophy campaign.

OKLAHOMA-TENNESSEE 2015

As far as full games, the Sooners and Volunteers gave fans a rollercoaster ride and allowed Baker Mayfield to introduce himself to the world with help from Sterling Shepard. Down 17-3 at the half, Mayfield and company staged a dramatic fourth-quarter comeback, allowing Zack Sanchez to call game on a walk-off interception in double overtime.

BACK-TO-BACK HEISMAN’S–2017-2018

Done just twice before, Oklahoma joined Ohio State and USC as the only schools to win back-to-back Heisman Trophy winners and the first school to win back-to-back Heisman Trophies with two different quarterbacks. Baker Mayfield won the 2017 Heisman his senior year allowing Kyler Murray to take over the college football world in 2018. The duo also made history as the only pair of quarterbacks to be taken No. 1 overall in the NFL Draft from the same school in back-to-back years.

BACK-TO-BACK X5–2014-2019

Oklahoma owns the Big 12 with 13 conference championships and 49 conference titles in program history. However, the 2010s was one of the most dominant decades in Sooners football history. Oklahoma won seven titles and closed the decade with five straight Big 12 titles, leading to four College Football Playoff appearances.

TREVOR KNIGHT’S SUGAR BOWL–2014

Everyone thought Alabama was going to wipe the floor with Oklahoma. We all know the story. Plus Alabama was unmotivated, obviously.

BUDDY HIELD’S FINAL FOUR RUN–2015-16

With such electric play from beginning to end, it was hard to pick just one Buddy Hield moment. Hield’s senior season earned him the Naismith Trophy, joining Blake Griffin as the only Sooners to win the award. Leading the Sooners to their fifth Final Four appearance and first since 2002.

LAUREN CHAMBERLAIN WCWS GAME 1 WALK-OFF–2013

Patty Gasso’s Sooners were torching everyone in the softball world, cruising to the Women’s College World Series against Tennessee. Just weeks prior, Oklahoma had been ravaged with tornado after tornado, killing dozens in their wake. Playing with heavy hearts and an entire state behind them, Oklahoma won their first WCWS since 2000 with help from a game 1 walk-off homerun from Lauren Chamberlain.

SOFTBALL BACK-TO-BACK NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS–2016-2017

After losing in the WCWS quarterfinals in 2014 missing the 2015 WCWS altogether, Gasso’s girls rallied to win back-to-back national titles in 2016 and 2017. The two World Series wins gave Gasso her third and fourth national titles as head coach.

MEN’S GOLF NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP-2017

Oklahoma won their second men’s golf national championship in 2017 over Oregon at Rich harvest Farms, just outside of Chicago. The Sooners finished second in stroke play, earning the No. 2 seed in match play. Oklahoma beat Baylor 3-2, Illinois 3.5-1.5 and Oregon 3.5-1.5 en route to their first national championship since 1989.

MEN’S AND WOMEN’S GYMNASTICS

To say Oklahoma is a gymnastics school is an underrated statement. Both the men’s and women’s programs have absolutely dominated college gymnastics.

The men’s program led by Mark Williams has two Nissen-Emmry award winners this decade in Steven Legendre (2011) and Yul Moldauer (2019), the gymnastics equivalent to the Heisman Trophy. From 2010 to 2019 the Sooners have won nine conference championships (2010, 2012-19), 14 individual NCAA champions and four consecutive NCAA national titles (2015-18).

Apr 21, 2018; Chicago, IL, USA; Oklahoma Sooners gymnasts pose with their first-place trophy at the NCAA National Collegiate Gymnastics Championships at UIC Pavilion. Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports

The women’s program led by KJ Kindler has produced equally impressive stats. Maggie Nichols won the Honda Award in 2019 as just the third Sooner to win the award. Kindler has produced seven NCAA individual champions, nine conference titles (2010, 2012-19), 34 ‘perfect 10s’ over the past 10 seasons and four NCAA national titles (2014, 2016-17, 2019).

Apr 15, 2017; St. Louis, MO, USA; Oklahoma Sooners gymnastics team celebrates as streamers fall after winning the National Championships during the 2017 NCAA Women’s Gymnastics Championships at Chaifetz Arena. Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

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Dolphins poach RB Samaje Perine off Bengals practice squad

The Miami Dolphins have signed RB Samaje Perine off the Cincinnati Bengals practice squad.

The Miami Dolphins are not your average 4-11 football team. Not by a long shot. While most losing teams are eager to blow past the final fleeting moments of football and embrace the offseason, these Dolphins are probably wishing they had more games to play. Miami has gone 4-4 in their last 8 games and along the way has faced continued overhaul to the bottom of their roster, making a weekly tradition of picking over the practice squads of the other 31 NFL teams and the waiver wire to add talent.

Miami isn’t just stashing players, either. They’re playing them. And some how, some way, they’re having success with several of them. Former Washington Redskin and Cincinnati Bengal running back Samaje Perine hopes to be the next. The Dolphins have signed Perine off of the Bengals practice squad yesterday according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport.

Perine is best known for his record breaking performance at Oklahoma, as he once rushed for 427 yards in a single game against the Kansas Jayhawks. With his low build and potent power, Perine’s rushing style could best be described as “violent”. The challenge for Perine, at least in Week 17, will be finding room to run. Without much in the way of lateral quickness, Perine could face many of the same challenges that Dolphins RB Kalen Ballage experienced — if the designated gap isn’t open, Perine may struggle to find room to run.

But this is, more than anything else, another long-term play for the Dolphins. Perine will look to push Ballage as the “big back” in Miami’s backfield next season, along with whoever else the Dolphins choose to acquire via free agency or the 2020 NFL Draft.

Bengals make roster moves and Dolphins poach practice squad RB Samaje Perine

The Bengals were involved in a few notable moves Monday.

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The Cincinnati Bengals were involved in more interesting moves than a one-win team has any right being the Monday of Week 17.

Cincinnati sent A.J. Green to injured reserve, then announced the acquisition of linebacker Sharif Finch on waivers. Formerly of the Tennessee Titans, Finch has played in 23 games since joining the league in 2018.

Later, the Miami Dolphins swooped in and made a waiver claim of their own, swiping Bengals running back Samaje Perine off the practice squad, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

Perine, 24, joined the Bengals after two seasons in Washington this past September when the team claimed him on waivers. A collegiate reunion with Joe Mixon made for a good story but he was cut a little more than a month later, then stashed on the practice squad.

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Five years later: A retelling of Samaje Perine’s record-breaking 427-yard game

On this day five years ago, Samaje Perine did the unthinkable. Sooners Wire’s Brayden Conover was there, takes you through the historic day.

Records and awards are broken and won all the time at the University of Oklahoma.

While going through one of the worst seasons in the Bob Stoops’ Era, you’d be hard pressed to find a better moment or performance than Samaje Perine’s 427-yard NCAA record breaking performance. 

Perine, a freshman at the time, carried it 34 times to break Melvin Gordon’s record set a week prior, and TCU great LaDainian Tomlinson’s that was set in 1999. 

On the fifth anniversary of this performance, Sooners Wire’s Brayden Conover gives you his perspective on that day from inside Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma.

NOV. 22, 2014.

It was a rainy, chilly and dreary Saturday in Oklahoma.

Just as we always did, my step-dad and I got to our seats plenty early to watch warmups. We sat in section 18, row five, seats 26-28 so we had a close view of the visiting team’s warmups and would throw kicking balls that escaped the net in the North end zone back to trainers. After a lengthy lightening delay, we made our way back to our seats, already drenched and oblivious to what was about to take place.

We knew that with the weather, the Sooners would likely keep it on the ground with a combination of Samaje Perine, Keith Ford and Alex Ross.

Perine, though, had other plans.

On Oklahoma’s first possession, Perine stayed on the sideline as Ford got the start. After a negative one yard run and two five yard gains from Ford, the Sooners punted away.

Oklahoma regained possession after a Kansas three-and-out. This time, Perine jogged onto the field. All he needed was one play to kick off his historic day, taking it 49 yards to the house on the first play of the drive. The smallest crowd I’ve seen at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium erupted as the Perine gained the lead for the Sooners.

On the next drive, Ford checks back in and fumbles after two plays, giving Kansas the ball.

After an uneventful rest of the quarter, Perine finished with 61 yards on six carries after the first quarter and the Sooners were up 10-0.

From there, Oklahoma’s career rushing yards leader took over.

In the second-quarter, Perine tallied 161 yards on 12 carries with two touchdowns. He dominated the Jayhawks to the tune of 222 yards and three touchdowns on just 18 first half carries.

At halftime, there were rumblings that if he kept the pace, he would break Melvin Gordon’s record of 408 rushing yards that was set just the week prior as Wisconsin beat Nebraska also on a rainy Madison, Wisconsin day. Of course, no one really thought a true freshman would break a record that was previously held by TCU’s LaDainian Tomlison (406 yards) and stood for nearly 16 seasons just seven days after the new bar was set.

But once again, Perine had other plans.

On Oklahoma’s first possession of the third quarter, Perine once again needed just one play. Running 66 yards for a touchdown, the crowd that remained knew they were in for a treat.

The chants began as the offense jogged off the field.

“PERINE! PERINE! PERINE!”

The 30,000 or so fans that remained, had their voices heard as the chants reverberated against the empty metal bleachers.

Some 288 yards and four touchdowns on 19 carries with 13:56 left in the third. Everyone in the stadium hoped the defense could get the ball back as soon as possible, just to see No. 32 trot out there again.

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