Where will the Sooners and Adrian Peterson go from here? Oklahoma's future may not include the junior running back, who is expected to be one of the top picks in the NFL draft. Now OU must look to its depth chart.
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Has Adrian Peterson played his last game in an OU uniform?
Knowing Peterson's competitive nature, don't be surprised to see him make a valiant attempt to come back. This isn't the kind of injury that he could damage further, jeopardizing his NFL stock.
If he has, where does he rank on the all-time list at OU?
Near, if not at the top. Everyone has their favorite Sooner back. Billy Vessels. Steve Owens. Billy Sims. Joe Washington.
Peterson stands 150 yards behind Sims “ as a junior “ in becoming OU's career rushing leader.
In September, he said the only thing that would make him consider coming back for certain was a major injury. Does this qualify?
No. This is minor when it comes to injuries. Disappointing for him and the Sooners, yes. But not a question for NFL types. His intentions of going to the NFL are probably intact.
What does OU do for a tailback now?
Tailbacks may be more like it.
Allen Patrick is the favorite to handle the majority of snaps, moving up from the No. 2 spot on the depth chart. Coaches have long believed that he'd be their top option to replace Peterson next fall. But Patrick's audition this year has not gone well. He lost two fumbles against Middle Tennessee. He dropped a pass against Iowa State. His season rushing totals: 18 carries for 62 yards.
Jacob Gutierrez ran for 173 yards and two touchdowns against Baylor last year, but tore his ACL in the Holiday Bowl. He's healthy again and will be a factor, as may freshman Mossis Madu, who has been the best of a group of three first-year players including DeMarco Murray and Chris Brown.
Murray, the most heralded of the freshmen backs, fell behind early in camp with a turf toe and hasn't had the opportunity to catch up.
"Allen Patrick is still the second," said OU offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson. "We have Gutierrez, who has been our third. We were potentially going to redshirt Mossis and DeMarco and Chris Brown. I guess coach (Cale) Gundy will take a look.
"I will venture to say, unless something changes, Mossis Madu has been the best in practice among the freshmen. A little bit further along. We might end up using all of them and doing it by committee. Those are decisions we'll make tomorrow and in the weeks to come."
By John Helsley
