Oklahoma’s Greatest Football All-American: Claude Reeds or Adrian Peterson

To truly appreciate the present you have to embrace the past. Claude Reeds and Adrian Peterson bring that together for Sooner fans. Reeds began the tradition at OU as the university’s first All-American while Peterson, continuing in the tradition, is one of the greatest running backs of the modern era.

Claude Reeds, FB - 1913
In 1913, Claude Reeds became the first player from the University of Oklahoma to earn All-America honors. An extremely accurate passer, Reeds confused defenses while throwing on the run and other times turning it up field for long gains.

He was an outstanding punter, and was also used at end, where he was an outstanding blocker and equally adept on receptions. During the final game of his career against Colorado, Reeds had one of the greatest runs of his career as he took it 70 yards on a fake punt for a touchdown. Most observers said he must have run at least 200 yards on that play alone as he crisscrossed the field eluding Buffalo tacklers.

He was inducted into the National Football Foundation College Football Hall of Fame in 1961.

Adrian Peterson, RB - 2004
Playing against a schedule that included five ranked opponents, Adrian Peterson proved himself one of the greatest freshman rushers in the history of college football. He was named a unanimous All-American his first season as a Sooner.

Peterson burst onto the national scene as a true freshman at Oklahoma during the 2004 season. The Palestine, Texas, native amassed 1,843 yards and 15 touchdowns and helped OU to its second consecutive undefeated regular season, the 2004 Big 12 Conference championship and a berth in the BCS National Championship Game in the 2005 FedEx Orange Bowl.

One of college football's most durable backs with a nation-leading 314 rushing attempts, Peterson was the first-ever freshman finalist for the Doak Walker Award. Peterson was also invited to New York as a finalist for the Heisman Trophy along with senior quarterback -- and 2003 winner -- Jason White.

Peterson broke three NCAA freshman rushing records: most consecutive 100-yard rushing games (9), most total 100-yard rushing games (11) and most rushing attempts by a freshman with 314.