Oklahoma Football: Adrian Peterson and the Top 10 Freshmen of the Bob Stoops Era

The best players are the guys who play under the Bob Stoops regime. It doesn't matter what year or how hyped they are coming out of high school.

The fact that there have been so many stand-out freshmen during the Stoops era is testament to the caliber of players they were at such a young age.

Seeing how freshman Trey Metoyer is already turning heads this year got me thinking about some of the top freshmen over the past 13 years.

Demarco Murray

Despite sharing a crowded backfield in 2007, Demarco Murray still managed to separate himself as one of the Sooners’ top playmakers. He began his Oklahoma career in style by rushing for five touchdowns against North Texas.

A great all-purpose player, Murray was also dangerous on special teams, returning two kickoffs for touchdowns. 

His breakout performance came in the Red River Shootout. Murray rushed for 128 yards and his electrifying 65-yard touchdown run proved to be the game-winner.

An injury cost him a chance to cross the 1,000-yard marker, but he was still named a Freshman All-American and tied an Oklahoma freshman record with 15 touchdowns. 

Tony Jefferson

As a freshman from California, Tony Jefferson started nine games for the Sooners in 2010. 

In the pass-happy Big 12 conference, Jefferson was able to hold his own against some of the best offenses in college football.

He had two interceptions and two sacks, along with numerous pass breakups throughout the season.

For his efforts, Jefferson was named Co-Defensive Freshman of the Year in the Big 12 by the coaches.

Kenny Stills

Another true freshman from California, Kenny Stills made a major impact in 2010.

Stills immediately helped fill a void for a team that really lacked production from wide receivers in 2009. His 61 catches and 786 yards in 2010 are Oklahoma freshman records. 

He saved his best game for the Sooners’ biggest game of the season. Down 17 points to Nebraska in the Big 12 Championship game, Stills caught a 49-yard touchdown pass to put Oklahoma on the board and helped set up another score when he was called down inside the 1-yard line.

Stills would also help the Sooners win the Fiesta Bowl later that season.

Derrick Strait

Derrick Strait was a redshirt freshman in 2000 and was an integral part of the team that won the national championship that season.

He started every game for the Sooners, finishing the season with 65 tackles. Strait intercepted two passes that year, including a huge pick-six against top-ranked Nebraska. 

Other highlights in the season were a pass breakup against Oklahoma State and a key deflection against Florida State in the Orange Bowl. 

Tommie Harris

Tommie Harris was a big recruit coming out of high school when he signed with Oklahoma in 2001. He made an immediate impact, becoming a starter as a true freshman and anchoring the Sooner defensive line.

Harris finished the season with 18 tackles for loss and helped the team win the Cotton Bowl. He was named Co-Defensive Freshman of the Year in the Big 12 by the coaches.

He had a terrific career at Oklahoma and won the Lombardi Award in 2003, but it all started his freshman year.

Travis Lewis

Travis Lewis was a redshirt freshman on the team that won the Big 12 and played for the national championship in 2008. 

Despite playing on a team with a record-setting offense, Lewis still managed to make a name for himself as a young player on defense. His 144 tackles are a freshman record and he also added four interceptions. 

For his efforts, he was named Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year by the coaches and Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year by the Associated Press.

Gerald McCoy

Gerald McCoy was one of the top players in the nation coming out of high school. He started almost every game as a redshirt freshman in 2007, becoming a staple on the defensive line.

His stats didn’t jump off the page, but McCoy still helped the Sooners capture their second consecutive Big 12 Championship his freshman year.

He was named Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year by the coaches and a Freshman All-American. 

Ryan Broyles

Before Kenny Stills, Ryan Broyles was the freshman wide receiver everyone was talking about. He redshirted in 2007, then helped the Sooners offense put up record numbers in 2008.

His set an Oklahoma record in his debut against Cincinnati with seven catches and 141 yards. Broyles set freshman records for receptions and yards in a season that would later be broken by Stills.

The Norman native would build off his success as a freshman, becoming the NCAA career leader in receptions his senior year in 2011.

Sam Bradford

Sam Bradford was relatively unknown coming out of high school. He redshirted his first year before winning the starting quarterback battle the following spring in 2007.

What followed was one of the more impressive seasons for a Oklahoma quarterback, regardless of year. Bradford set an NCAA freshman record by tossing 36 touchdown passes, and he also led the nation in pass efficiency.

The Sooners won 11 games with Bradford at the helm, including another Big 12 title. He received numerous All-Conference and Freshman All-American honors.

Bradford set the bar pretty high as a freshman, but the next year he managed to top himself by winning the Heisman Trophy.

Adrian Peterson

Adrian Peterson is one of the biggest recruits to ever sign with Oklahoma in the Bob Stoops era. Despite the immense hype, he managed to exceed expectations.

Peterson set numerous NCAA records his freshman year in 2004. He rushed for over 100 yards in the first nine games of the season, which is a freshman record, and his 11 total games of 100 yards or more is also a record.

The future Sooner legend ran for 225 yards against the Texas Longhorns, who were ranked in the top five at the time. Peterson led the nation that season in carries and rushed for 1,925, which was yet another NCAA freshman record.

He was a consensus All-American and finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting, which is still the highest finish ever for a freshman.