Oklahoma Sooners Football: A Tribute to Recent OU Graduate Quentin Griffin

When star running back Quentin Griffin left the University of Oklahoma after the 2002 season, he had every intention of one day completing the 33 hours of credits he left short as he prepared for a career in the NFL. Following a rollercoaster career in professional football through the last decade, the diminutive but dominant player affectionately known as “Q” finally achieved his academic goals as he earned a degree in Multidisciplinary Studies this spring.

As a tribute, we thought we’d look back at some of the high points of his career.

Griffin was a dynamic talent who amassed 5,275 all-purpose yards on 913 touches for the Oklahoma Sooners from 1999-2002. Finishing his collegiate career with 3,938 rushing yards, 1,337 receiving and 51 touchdowns, Q is currently the sixth all-time rusher and fourth in all-purpose yardage in Oklahoma history. He also enjoyed the third-best rushing season in school history with 1,884 yards and 15 rushing touchdowns as a Heisman Trophy candidate in 2002, and holds the OU record for most touchdowns in a game with six against Texas in the famed 2000 Red River blowout.

He was the only offensive player in the 2000 BCS National Championship Game to find the end zone, as well.

Although his NFL career was cut short by injury, Griffin did earn a spot in the rotation during his first two seasons. A fourth-round pick of the Broncos in 2003, Q unfortunately tore his ACL in Week 7 of his second season, which ended up being his last game with Denver. His brief career did include a 156-yard, three-touchdown outburst against the Chiefs in the 2004 season opener.

Q joined former Sooner standouts Tommie Harris, Malcolm Kelly and Jarrail Jackson who received their diplomas this spring as well. Wide receivers Kelly and Jackson also earned their degrees in Multidisciplinary Studies, while NFL Pro Bowl defensive tackle Tommie Harris earned his in Administrative Leadership. Congrats and Boomer Sooner to all these former stars for their academic success.

Here are some of Q’s many highlights from his time at Oklahoma: