Well now, let me tell ya a little somethin’ ’bout the Oklahoma football team and their Heisman winners. You might not know this, but the Heisman Trophy ain’t just any ol’ award. It’s given to the best college football player in the whole dang country. It’s like a badge of honor, and Oklahoma, well, they sure got their share of it.
First thing you oughta know is, Oklahoma’s been real good at this. They’ve won the Heisman Trophy seven times, which puts ’em right up there with the big teams like Ohio State, Notre Dame, and USC. That’s some mighty fine company to be in. Now, the first time a Sooner player got their hands on that shiny trophy was way back in 1952. A feller by the name of Billy Vessels, he was a running back, and he rushed for over a thousand yards that year. He sure made a name for himself and showed folks that Oklahoma’s football wasn’t somethin’ to be taken lightly.
After ol’ Billy, it wasn’t too long before another Oklahoma boy got that Heisman. In 1972, it was Steve Owens. He was a running back too, and boy, could he run the ball. He ended up rushin’ for over 2,000 yards in his career, and that’s no small feat. The fans loved him, and he was just another sign that Oklahoma was a football school.
Then, in 1985, there was another big name to take that trophy home – Boomer Sooner’s own, Sam Bradford. Now, Sam, he wasn’t your average quarterback. He had an arm on him that made folks turn their heads. He was real sharp, led the Sooners to a national championship game, and put on a show in that 2008 season. He threw over 4,700 yards and had 50 touchdown passes. Heck, folks were bettin’ money on him winning that award long before they handed it out.
But if we’re talkin’ about some of the most famous Oklahoma Heisman winners, we gotta mention Baker Mayfield. Now, Baker, he was somethin’ special. Not only did he win the Heisman in 2017, but he also did it with the highest passin’ efficiency rating in FBS history. And get this, he wasn’t even a top recruit! Started out as a walk-on and worked his way to the top. That’s the kind of story folks love, ain’t it?
Then, not long after that, came Kyler Murray in 2018. Now, that boy had some serious moves. He wasn’t just good at football, he was good at baseball too! But in his one season as a full-time quarterback for Oklahoma, he threw for over 4,300 yards and 42 touchdowns. He also ran for 1,000 yards, makin’ him one of the most dangerous dual-threat quarterbacks in history. He helped the Sooners stay on top and made ’em proud again.
And I tell ya, the tradition don’t stop there. You got guys like Jason White, who won the Heisman in 2003. He was another quarterback who led Oklahoma to the national title game. You might not remember all the details, but that boy could throw like nobody’s business. He worked real hard for that trophy, and he earned it.
Now, let’s take a step back and think about what the Heisman really means. The trophy started all the way back in 1935, so it’s been around for a good while. It’s not just about being a great player; it’s about representin’ your team, your school, and your whole dang state. And Oklahoma’s done that real well. With their seven Heisman winners, they’re tied for the most in the country. That’s a mighty proud record, I’d say.
There are some other schools that might’ve won more Heismans, like Ohio State and USC, but Oklahoma’s right there with ‘em. When you think of college football and you hear that name “Oklahoma,” you know it’s a team that’s done somethin’ right. And them Heisman winners, they sure helped make Oklahoma a football powerhouse.
So, there ya have it. From Billy Vessels in ’52 all the way to Kyler Murray in ’18, Oklahoma’s had some real standouts. It’s no wonder folks still talk about ’em today. The Sooners’ Heisman legacy is somethin’ folks’ll remember for years to come, and it just shows you how important football is out here in this part of the country. Ain’t nobody gonna forget these names anytime soon, not when they’ve made their mark on the game like they did.
Tags:[Oklahoma football, Heisman winners, Oklahoma Sooners, Billy Vessels, Sam Bradford, Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray, college football, football legends, Heisman Trophy]