When you talk about the bluebloods of college football, the Oklahoma Sooners have to be on that list. The school has seven national championships, seven Heisman Trophy winners, and numerous All-Americans.
The Sooners football tradition goes back to the early days of the Big 8 (now Big 12) and continues today. Narrowing down the list of great players to a Top 10 was a hard task because two-thirds of this list could be taken up with just Heisman winners alone. This list will also focus on players whose impact is still felt by the program and by those who had an impact on the program beyond college football.
So without further ado, here is our list of the top 10 best Oklahoma Sooners football players of all time.
10. Billy Vessels, running back
The Sooners’ first Heisman winner was Billy Vessels, who won the award in 1952. Vessels rushed for 1,072 yards on 167 carries and scored 17 touchdowns during his senior season. He also was a consensus All-American. Surprisingly, Vessels spurned the Baltimore Colts to play two seasons in the precursors to the CFL. He eventually joined the Colts for one season before a leg injury ended his career. Vessels is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame.
9. Jason White, quarterback
Jason White broke numerous Oklahoma Sooners records on his way to winning the Heisman in 2003. White threw for nearly 4,000 yards and 40 touchdowns that season and almost had a repeat performance the following year. White not only won the Heisman, but was also a national champion, unanimous All-American, two-time Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, and a Maxwell, Davey O’Brien, and Johnny Unitas award winner. He ended his Sooners career with nearly 8,000 passing yards and 81 touchdowns.
8. Roy Williams, safety
Roy Williams was one of the best college safeties of all time while he played for the Sooners. He was a national champion, unanimous All-American, first-round draft choice, and Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year. He is also a winner of the Nagurski and Thorpe awards as well. During his time with Oklahoma, he recorded 287 tackles, 34 tackles for loss, nine interceptions, and 44 pass deflections during his career. Williams was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2022.
7. Adrian Peterson, running back
If it wasn’t for Billy Sims, Adrian Peterson would be remembered as the best running back in school history. Peterson is still one of the best Sooners of all time. He rushed for nearly 2,000 yards and 15 touchdowns as a freshman in 2004, which garnered him All-American honors, Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year, and Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year. He also made first-team Big 12 three times. Peterson ended his career at Oklahoma with over 4,000 yards rushing and 41 touchdowns. He would go on to have a stellar NFL career with the Minnesota Vikings and other teams, being named NFL MVP in 2012.
6. Keith Jackson, tight end
Keith Jackson is probably the most prolific receiver in Sooners’ history. Jackson was part of those great Barry Switzer teams of the 1980s and, in fact, he was on the 1985 Sooners team that won a national championship. During his time as a Sooner, Jackson was a two-time All-American and accrued nearly 1,500 yards receiving. That might not be a lot compared to today’s standards but the OU offense under Switzer ran the option, so for Jackson to be a two-time All-American in that offense was impressive. He would go on to have a terrific career in the NFL, winning a Super Bowl ring with the Green Bay Packers. Jackson is also a member of the College Football Hall of Fame.
5. Baker Mayfield, quarterback
Coming out of high school in Austin, Texas, Baker Mayfield seemed to be destined to play quarterback in his home state. In fact, he did, signing with Texas Tech. Issues with then-head coach Kliff Kingsbury led to Mayfield transferring and walking onto Oklahoma, where he planted his flag (literally). Mayfield is a Heisman Trophy winner, two-time All-American, two-time Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, Big 12 Freshman of the Year, and made first-team All-Big 12 three times. In his Heisman year, Mayfield threw for nearly 5,000 yards and 43 touchdowns. In that year, Mayfield threw for nearly an astounding 600 yards and six touchdowns (five passing) and the Sooners’ victory over rival Oklahoma State. The 598 passing-yard mark is still a school record.
4. Sam Bradford, quarterback
When Sam Bradford hit the Oklahoma campus, he made an immediate impact. He won the Sporting News Freshman of the Year award in 2007 as well as 2008. Bradford threw for over 4,700 yards and 50 touchdowns in 2008 en route to a Heisman Trophy. Bradford was also named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, first-team All-American, and Davy O’Brien winner. He would end his college career with over 8,000 yards passing and 88 touchdowns. Bradford would go on to be a first-round draft choice of the St. Louis Rams, but injuries followed him all through his NFL career.
3. Brian Bosworth, linebacker
Probably the most well-known and most controversial figure in Oklahoma Sooners football history is Brian Bosworth. But it didn’t start out that way. Bosworth was a quiet, unassuming guy off the field. But on the field, his persona turned into “The Boz,” a ferocious competitor who terrified opponents during his college football days. Bosworth was a unanimous two-time All-American, two-time Butkus Award winner, and was chosen for the All-Big 8 team three times. His antics off the field are what most people were talking about. He could be downright obnoxious, but he was smart enough even in those days, to capitalize on the fan’s hatred of him. Bosworth is known these days as the sheriff in the Dr. Pepper “Fansville” commercials. But he’s also a member of the College Football Hall of Fame.
2. Lee Roy Selmon, linebacker
The most decorated defensive player in Sooner history is Lee Roy Selmon. Selmon is a two-time All-American, Outland Trophy winner, Lombardi Award winner, and two-time national champion. He anchored those great Oklahoma defenses of the 1970s. Barry Switzer once said that Selmon was the “best player he has ever coached.” Selmon would go on to have a long NFL career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers where he would rack up accolades and awards. inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1988, the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1995, and the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 2009.
1. Billy Sims, running back
Those dominant Sooner teams of the 1970s wouldn’t have succeeded without Billy Sims. The Sooner offense was built around Sims and his running abilities. In 1978, he ran for 1,762 yards and 20 touchdowns. He followed that up in 1979 by running for 1,506 yards and 22 scores. That 1978 stat line garnered him the Heisman Trophy and he was named an All-American both years. Sims ended his career with the Sooners with 3,820 yards rushing and 48 touchdowns. He was the first overall pick in the 1980 NFL Draft, the last Oklahoma player taken No. 1 overall until Sam Bradford. In 1995, Sims was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
