For the first century of its existence the Oklahoma football program was known for churning out top-notch running backs. The Sooners’ first three Heisman winners (Billy Vessels, Steve Owens and Billy Sims) were all halfbacks who experienced success in a ground-and-pound style of offense.
It was the arrival of Bob Stoops and his subsequent hiring of offensive guru Mike Leach that put the Sooners on the cutting edge of college football offense, a spot they have enjoyed for the last 19 years.
Since Leach’s hiring nine different quarterbacks have taken the opening-day snap for the Sooners, of those five (Josh Heupel, Jason White, Sam Bradford, Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray) have gone to New York as Heisman finalists.