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The Bob Stoops era has come to a close in Norman. Here's a look at some of the top players he's coached as part of Oklahoma football.
The college football coaching landscape took a huge blow yesterday when head coach Bob Stoops retired as the head coach of the Oklahoma Sooners. After 18 seasons, the Stoops' era has come to an end, but that's not without observing how good of a legacy he leaves behind.
Stoops led the Sooners to a 190-48 record as head coach. He only lost eight home games as the Oklahoma head coach. He coached the team to 10 wins or more in 14 of his 18 seasons as head coach, including a National Title in 2000 over the Florida State Seminoles.
Stoops was also a regular staple for the Big 12 Coach of the Year award. He won the award in 2000, 2003, 2006, 2008, 2015 and 2016.
Wins weren't the only thing Stoops' produced either. He created a healthy pipeline of NFL Draft picks out of Oklahoma Sooners' players. 83 Sooners were drafted while Stoops was the head coach in Norman.
In comparison, the Texas Longhorns produced 62 draft picks in the same span and the Kansas State Wildcats produced 43 draft picks.
In the 2017 NFL Draft, Oklahoma saw four players taken off the board. The highest player was selected 48th overall (RB Joe Mixon, Cincinnati Bengals).
Bob Stoops leaves the Oklahoma Sooners' program to head coach Lincoln Riley. Here's a look at some of the top players to ever play for Oklahoma during the Stoops' era.
Jan 2, 2017; New Orleans, LA, USA; Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Baker Mayfield celebrates after defeating the Auburn Tigers in the 2017 Sugar Bowl at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Oklahoma won 35-19. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
5. Baker Mayfield, Quarterback
Bob Stoops isn't leaving the cupboard entirely bare for new Oklahoma Sooners head coach. He'll still have quarterback Baker Mayfield under center.
Mayfield is arguably one of the most decorated quarterbacks in Sooners' history. He finished third in Heisman voting in 2016, fourth in 2015. He enters the 2017 season with a lot of Heisman hype in his final season as a college quarterback.
Mayfield threw for 3,965 passing yards and 40 passing touchdowns to lead the Sooners to their second-straight Big 12 title in 2016. He led the FBS in passing completion percentage (70.9 percent) and passing yards per play (11.1). His reluctance to return for his senior season is due to his want to win a National Title in 2017.
He was named 2015 Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year when the Sooners made the College Football Playoff back in the 2015 season. With Coach Stoops gone, the added motivation is there for Mayfield to outshine his counterparts and return to the College Football Playoff.
Jan 1, 2017; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Gerald McCoy (93) against the Carolina Panther at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports
4. Gerald McCoy, Defensive Tackle
Oklahoma Sooners defensive tackle Gerald McCoy is one of the more recent defensive standouts to play for head coach Bob Stoops. McCoy was the third overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft after three strong seasons in Norman.
McCoy attended Oklahoma from 2007-2009 where he racked up a number of defensive awards. He recorded 83 total tackles (51 solo, 32 assisted), 33.0 tackles for loss, 14.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception in his career as a Sooner.
McCoy is a player who improved by the season under head coach Bob Stoops. He was Big 12 Freshman of the Year in 2007, Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year in 2008 and an Big 12 first-team selection in 2009.
After deciding to leave school early, McCoy went on to be drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He is still a member of the team, where he's been a contributing member for seven seasons. He's recorded 168 tackles, 42.0 sacks and six forced fumbles.
Jan 1, 2017; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Bradford (8) against the Chicago Bears at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Vikings defeated the Bears 38-10. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
3. Sam Bradford, Quarterback
Former Oklahoma Sooner Sam Bradford is probably the most decorated quarterback to play for Bob Stoops. Bradford was the beginning of a quarterback renaissance in Norman.
He was a member of the Sooners from 2007-2009. In his second season as quarterback, he won the Heisman Trophy in 2008, becoming the second sophomore to win the award. He threw for 4,720 passing yards and 50 passing touchdowns that year.
In two seasons as starter, Bradford accumulated 8,403 passing yards, 88 passing touchdowns and just 16 interceptions. The Sooners had a record of 23-5 as the starting quarterback.
He also won the Davey O'Brien award, Sammy Baugh Trophy, Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year and AP Player of the Year award in 2008. Despite filling up the awards cabinet, Bradford still decided to return the following season in 2009.
He played in just three games the next season after spraining the A-C joint in his throwing shoulder. It didn't stop Bradford from declaring from the 2010 NFL Draft. He was selected as the first overall pick by St. Louis Rams. He's currently a member of the Minnesota Vikings, his third NFL team.
Nov 13, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Titans running back DeMarco Murray (29) breaks through the line and scores a touchdown during the first half against the Green Bay Packers at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
2. DeMarco Murray, Running Back
DeMarco Murray followed in the footsteps of a star running back and didn't disappoint when he hit the field for the Oklahoma Sooners. Murray is arguably one of the best running backs to play under Bob Stoops. He was a member of the Sooners from 2007-2010.
He ran for 3,685 rushing yards, 50 rushing touchdowns and caught 1,571 receiving yards for 13 touchdowns in four seasons with the Sooners. Murray ran for over 1,000 rushing yards twice in 2008 (1,002) and 2010 (1,214) in his career at Oklahoma.
Before he left campus, he held the Sooners' record for all-purpose yards (6,498 yards) and record for career touchdowns (64) and career receiving yards by a running back (1,512).
Murray showed his versatility in a number of ways while at Oklahoma. He even returned kickoffs as a freshman and sophomore in 2007 and 2008. During those seasons, he had 43 returns for 1,213 return yards and two return touchdowns. He led the Big 12 in kickoff return yards per return with 29.3 yards per return in 2007.
Murray went on to get drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the 2011 NFL Draft. He was taken in the third round as the 71st overall pick.
Dec 18, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (28) rushes against the Indianapolis Colts before fumbling in the second quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
1. Adrian Peterson, Running Back
Running back Adrian Peterson is arguably the best player to play under head coach Bob Stoops as a member of the Oklahoma Sooners. Explosive is the best word to use when describing Peterson, who made plays with his feet every time he touched the pigskin.
Peterson ran for 4,041 rushing yards and 41 rushing touchdowns as a member of the Sooners from 2004-2006. Despite spending just three seasons at Oklahoma, Peterson ran for over 1,000 rushing yards in each year he appeared on the roster.
Peterson was an AP All-American as a freshman in 2004. He rushed for nearly 2,000 rushing yards in his first year as starter, finishing with 1,925 rushing yards, a freshman record. He also finished second in Heisman voting that year.
Peterson was picked seventh overall in the 2007 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings after declaring early. He won Offensive Rookie of the Year after rushing for 1,341 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns. Now, he's currently a member of the New Orleans Saints.
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