Oklahoma’s Greatest Football All-American: Darrell Royal or Rickey Dixon

Many Oklahoma fans remember Darrell Royal as being the head coach who guided the Texas Longhorns to three national championships during his 20 years at the helm. However long before that he was a standout football player for the University of Oklahoma. Playing both defensive back and quarterback Royal set Sooner records for career interceptions (18) and interceptions in a game (3) as well as compiling a 16-1 record as a starting quarterback.

Meanwhile Ricky Dixon was a great defensive back in his own right. He recorded 156 tackles and 16 interceptions during his career at Oklahoma. He also tied the school record his senior year with 8 interceptions. Dixon was the first Sooner to win the Jim Thorpe award, given out to the nation’s best defensive back.