Big 12 Football: Top 5 Candidates to win Offensive Player of the Year

Nov 22, 2014; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners running back Samaje Perine (32) runs past Kansas Jayhawks cornerback Dexter McDonald (12) and scores a touchdown during the game at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

The 243-pound Perine had two games with at least 200 yards rushing to go with his 427-yard outburst to give him six games with more than 100 yards. He wasn’t even the starter until Week 4, he could have had an unthinkable 2,000 yards as a freshman.

With first-year offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley at Oklahoma, look for Perine to put up numbers similar to his freshman year, but don’t expect another 427-yard performance.

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Samaje Perine

RB, Oklahoma

Samaje Perine was the best freshman running back in the country last year and the top running back in the Big 12. Perine began the year buried on the depth chart but injuries and suspension moved him to the top and he delivered 1,713 yards on 263 carries and 21 touchdowns.

Perine set the FBS single-game rushing record, one week after Melvin Gordon set the mark with 408 yards, when he ran for 427 yards and five touchdowns in the win against Kansas. But his first breakout game came seven games earlier when he ran for 242 yards and four touchdowns in his first career start against West Virginia.

The 243-pound Perine had two games with at least 200 yards rushing to go with his 427-yard outburst to give him six games with more than 100 yards. He wasn’t even the starter until Week 4, he could have had an unthinkable 2,000 yards as a freshman.

With first-year offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley at Oklahoma, look for Perine to put up numbers similar to his freshman year, but don’t expect another 427-yard performance.

Next: Trevone Boykin