Across their history as one of the most iconic college football programs in the history of the sport, the Oklahoma Sooners have had some of the game’s greatest players over the years.
But which OU player was the best in the history of the program? That’s what Saturday Down South attempted to find out earlier this week. Spenser Davis compiled his rankings of the 25 greatest players in Oklahoma Football history, and his list includes some of the most recognizable names in all of college football.
“Oklahoma’s football program has a rich tradition of success that dates back more than a century,” Davis said. Narrowing down the top 25 greatest players is no easy task for any program, but especially not one like Oklahoma. As the decades have flown by, the Sooners have produced more unanimous All-Americans (35) and more consensus All-Americans (81) than any other program in the modern era. Thousands of elite players have found their way to Norman over the last 100+ years. Hundreds have contributed to OU’s 7 national championship teams. Dozens are in the College Football Hall of Fame. Seven have won the Heisman Trophy. There are so many players who are worthy of mention, but only 25 can make the cut.”
Topping Davis’ list was none other than former defensive lineman, Lee Roy Selmon, who played for the Sooners from 1972 to 1975. He’s both a college football and NFL legend and has plenty of hardware from his time in Norman.
“Before the turn of the century, Lee Roy Selmon was the undisputed greatest player in Oklahoma football history,” Davis said. “He retains the top spot on this list even after all the all-time great players who have come through Norman over the last 2+ decades. Selmon, whose brothers Lucious and Dewey (who just missed out on appearing on this list) also starred for the Sooners, won 2 national championships under legendary coach Barry Switzer. Selmon’s individual accolades include the Outland Trophy, the Lombardi Trophy and unanimous All-America honors for his efforts in 1975. Selmon was so dominant in college that, legend has it, he was never knocked off his feet in 4 years with the Sooners. He went on to become the first-ever draft pick by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1976 and was later inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.”
Behind Selmon, the rest of the top five on Davis’ list reads like a who’s who of all-time OU greats. Quarterback Baker Mayfield, running back Adrian Peterson, running back Billy Sims and linebacker Brian Bosworth. You could make the argument that any of those players could also be considered for the top spot as well.
Back in 2019, Berry Tramel, then of The Oklahoman, ranked his top 150 players in Oklahoma Football history. He put Mayfield in the top spot, with Selmon just behind him at second. Sims, defensive back Roy Williams, and running back Billy Vessels rounded out Tramel’s top five. Regardless of who you think the greatest player in program history is, there’s no question that Oklahoma’s best could line up with any other school’s and Sooner Nation would feel good about their chances.
This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Greatest Oklahoma Sooners from Saturday Down South
