Oklahoma Sooners Numbers Game: 21-30
Now, we’ve made it to the 20s in the Oklahoma Sooners numbers game. There have been incredible players identified through numbers one through 10 and 11 through 20. In the 20s, we look at some outstanding running backs, quarterbacks, and the two best defensive backs in the school history. With this in mind, we present the greatest Sooners in numbers 21-30 of the 99 greatest Sooners of all time by number.
#21 Darrell Royal
Even though, he is considered a Texas legend after his playing days there is no denying how great of a player he was for Oklahoma. Though Royal also played quarterback, he is better known for his stellar play at defensive back. His 18 career interception still ranks number one in Sooner history and is a record that has stood for over 70 years.
#22 Quentin Griffin
The diminutive Griffin is pound for pound arguably the best running back in Oklahoma football history. Be that as it may, he is number six on the career rushing yardage list with 3,938 yards. His six rushing touchdown against Texas in 2000 still is the best individual scoring game in school history.
#23 Dewell Brewer
The options were fairly limited at #23. However, most fans will remember Brewer from the beginning of the Gary Gibbs era from 1989-1992. His best season wearing the crimson and cream was his sophomore season in which he ran for 872 yards and eight touchdowns. For his career, he ran for 2240 yards and 19 touchdowns.
#24 Joe Washington
Washington was one of the most electric playmakers regardless of position in Oklahoma football history. He came in third and fifth respectively in the Heisman Trophy voting in 1974 and 1975. Washington most likely would have won the award in 1975 if not for the television ban probation. He ranks third all-time with 4,071 yards rushing and is fifth in career punt return yardage as well.
#25 Tommy McDonald
McDonald was a two-year starter for the Sooners in 1955 and 1956. In 1956, he ran for 853 yards with 12 touchdowns. Also, he had 282 yards receiving with four additional touchdowns. For his efforts, he won the Maxwell Award and finished third in the Heisman Trophy. Additionally, McDonald never experienced a loss in a Sooner uniform.
#26 Jack Mitchell
Many won’t remember Mitchell due to his playing days in 1948. However, Mitchell was the first Oklahoma quarterback to earn All-American honors. Though it may be true that Oklahoma saw quarterbacks with greater success, Mitchell may have been the catalyst of the option. Mitchell identified that it would be a better play to pitch the ball rather than being tackle which helped create the option play.
#27 Jack Jacobs
Jacobs was truly a “jack” of all trades. During his career, he punted, played defensive back, and was also the starting quarterback. Jacobs averaged 47.8 yards per kick in 1940 which to this day is still a Sooner record. Jacobs accumulated the most total yards on the team in 1940 and 1941 and is tied with seven players for the most interceptions in one game with three.
#28 Adrian Peterson
Few would argue that Peterson was the most physically gifted running back in Sooner history. If not for injuries in his sophomore and junior seasons, he would be the all-time leading rusher at Oklahoma. Still, he ranks fourth with 4,045 career yards. Peterson has enjoyed the same success in his 13-year career in the NFL with 14,216 rushing yards he ranks fifth all-time.
#29 Rickey Dixon
Dixon can arguably make the claim as the best defensive back in Sooner football history. He is second only to Royal in career interceptions with 17 and is number one with nine interceptions for a season in 1987. He was the first Sooner to win the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation’s best defensive back as well. Dixon was a key figure in the 1985 national championship win against Penn State as well.
#30 Greg Pruitt
We conclude our list with a top 10 running back in school history in Pruitt. His 1971 season was special as he ran for 1,760 yards and averaged an incredible nine-yard per carry for the entire season. His 7.4 yards per carr with at least 300 career carries is still number one in school history. He was an all-everything back for the Sooners and is still third in all-purpose yardage for his career in an Oklahoma uniform.
