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Adrian Peterson burst onto the season as a freshman when he finished second in the 2004 Heisman voting to USC Trojans quarterback Matt Leinart. He rushed for 1,925 yards that season and scored 15 times, as part of the 12-1 Sooners team that ended up losing to Leinart’s Trojans in the Orange Bowl.

Related: 30 Best College Running Backs of All-Time

Peterson hit a bit of a sophomore slump, getting to 1,104 yards, but still reaching the end zone 14 times. Then his junior year was where he started to pick up some more momentum, through his first seven games, he had already reached 1,000 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns. But in the middle of the season vs. Iowa State, Peterson was going in for a touchdown on the final drive of the game and broke his collarbone, which sidelined him until the team’s bowl game.

He’s just a rare breed of talent. He can use the speed to get to the outside, and then cut it back in to make a defense miss, or decide to run the defender over. Good for a long 60-yard run or from just outside the five-yard line, Peterson had the ability to score from anywhere.

Next: LaDainian Tomlinson