#28

Full Name:
Adrian Peterson
Born:
March 21, 1985
Birth Place:
Palestine, Texas

Height:
6 foot 2
Weight:
218 pounds
Position:
Runningback

Adrian Peterson was born on March 21, 1985, son of Nelson Peterson and Bonita Jackson. Adrian Peterson was one of the nation's top prospects and running backs. Folks in Texas have compared Adrian Peterson to Eric Dickerson. Last season as a junior, Adrian Peterson rushed for 2,051 yards (8.3 yards) and 22 touchdowns. In spite of this Adrian Peterson injured his right hand. His senior year was even better where he rushed the ball 240 times for 2,315 yards and 32 touchdowns. He has been timed as fast as 10.6 in the 100 meters.

Adrian Peterson the first player in school history to eclipse 3,000 rushing yards in two seasons. Adrian Peterson tied for fourth in school history with 16, 100-yard games and is third with four 200-yard performances. Adrian Peterson has a career rushing total of 3,033 ranks eighth at Oklahoma University or OU. Adrian Peterson ran a team-best 4.37 in the 40 in the spring of 2006. Adrian Peterson also registered a vertical leap of 37 inches.

In High school, Adrian Peterson is the Consensus national player of the year. He rushed for 2,960 yards on 252 attempts, with an average of 11.7 yards per carry, and 32 touchdowns when he was a senior. Adrian Peterson finished his 2002 campaign with 2,051 yards on 246 carries, an average of 8.3 yards per carry, and 22 touchdowns or TDs. Adrian Peterson was coached by Jerry Harrell when he competed track and field and basketball.

Adrian Peterson was the second in the Heisman balloting, he is the best finish ever by a freshman in 2004. Adrian Peterson was number three in voting for the Maxwell Award (player of the year) . He is a consensus All-American while playing against six ranked foes and the first Oklahoma University freshman to be named as an All-America. Adrian Peterson was the first freshman since Dre Bly in 1996 to be named AP All-American. Adrian Peterson was also the first freshman Doak Walker Award finalist and He totaled a nation-leading and NCAA freshman record 339 rushing attempts (third highest in Oklahoma University history). Adrian Peterson was at number three nationally with 1,925 rushing yards. The yards after contact were 1,365, 71% of Adrian Peterson’s net. Adrian Peterson broke Oklahoma University school season rushing record set in 1978 by Billy Sims which was 1,896 and the NCAA freshman record set in 1996 by Wisconsin’s Ron Dayne which was 1,863. He also set NCAA frosh marks for consecutive 100-yard rushing games (9) and total 100-yard rushing games (11). Quentin Griffin had 12 100-yard rushing games in 2002 which makes Adrian Peterson’s 11 100-yard games ranked second at Oklahoma University. Adrian Peterson tied NCAA freshman record for reaching 1,000 yards in the fewest games, 7 with Emmitt Smith on Florida, in 1987 and Marshall Faulk on San Diego State, in 1991. Greg Pruitt, who reached 1,000 yards in six games of the 1971 season, is the only Oklahoma University running back to reach the plateau faster than Peterson. Adrian Peterson rushed for 100 yards in 11 of 13 games. Lone exceptions were game 10 when Adrian Peterson played sparingly in a win over Nebraska (15-58) due to injury and the Orange Bowl (25-82). Adrian Peterson was Number six nationally in rushing yards (148.1 per game). He set Oklahoma University freshman all-purpose record with 1,937 yards and the third-highest figure in school history. He was Number fifteen nationally with 149.0 all-purpose yards per game, had 44 rushes of 10 or more yards and eight of 35 yards or longer, and the second Oklahoma University freshman to rush for 100 yards in debut game, and the first running back to do so.

Adrian Peterson was one of the Consensus All-Big 12 in 2005. Adrian Peterson missed all or more than half of four games with ankle injury and still rushed for more yards than any other Big 12 running backs. Adrian Peterson was the second in the league in rushing to Missouri quarter back Brad Smith. He had the 14th-best rushing season in school history. Adrian Peterson ran for more than 100 yards in five of the eight games in which he was healthy. Adrian Peterson gained 237 yards on 24 carries with two touchdowns (84 and 71) vs. Oklahoma State and was named the Walter Camp National Player of the Week. Adrian Peterson carried 32 times for 220 yards and three touchdowns in win over Tulsa.

On January 15, 2007, Peterson declared that he will forgo his senior year of college and enter the 2007 NFL Draft where it was predicted by many that he would be a top 5 draft choice. On April 28, 2007, Peterson was selected by the Minnesota Vikings with the 7th overall pick. For the Minnesota Vikings Peterson will wear jersey number 28. You can watch Adrian and the Vikings by getting tickets for all Minnesota Vikings games .

Peterson was signed by the Vikings on July 29, 2007. His contract is worth $40.5 millions over five years, with $17 million guaranteed.

2007
After just eleven weeks into his rookie season with the Minnesota Vikings, Peterson was already considered to be among the premier running backs in the NFL.[35] Before the season, Peterson announced his goals were to be named Offensive Rookie of the Year and rushing for 1,800 yards over the season, breaking the league's rookie rushing record just as he did in his first season at Oklahoma. The NFL's rushing record for a rookie is currently held by Eric Dickerson at 1,808 yards.[36]

On August 10, 2007, Peterson made his Minnesota Vikings debut in a preseason game against the St. Louis Rams.[37] Peterson ran for 33 yards on 11 carries with one catch for two yards.[38] On September 9, 2007, Peterson ran for 103 yards on nineteen carries in his first NFL regular season game against the Atlanta Falcons.[39] In addition to his rushing yardage, he scored his first professional football touchdown on a sixty yard pass reception.[39] Over his first three regular season games, his 431 yards (271 rushing & 160 receiving) from scrimmage are a team record.[40] For his performance during the three games, Peterson received the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month award for both September and October 2007.[41][42]

His breakout game as a professional came on October 14, 2007 against the Chicago Bears, highlighted by a three touchdown performance and a then franchise record of 224 yards rushing on 20 carries.[43] Peterson established additional team records for a rookie during this game, which included the most 100-yard games rushing and the longest touchdown run from scrimmage.[44] He also set an NFL rookie record with 361 all-purpose yards in a single game. His 607 rushing yards through the first five games of the season is second in NFL history to Eric Dickerson.[45] Following Peterson's record performance, Deion Sanders, now an NFL Network analyst said the following about Peterson: "He has the vision of a Marshall Faulk, the power of a Terrell Davis, and the speed of an Eric Dickerson. Let’s pray he has the endurance of an Emmitt Smith."[46] He has also been compared to Walter Payton and Bo Jackson by Star Tribune sports journalist Jim Souhan.[47]

Three weeks later on November 4, 2007, Peterson broke his own franchise record as well as the NFL single game rushing yard record previously held by Jamal Lewis since 2003 when he rushed for 296 yards on thirty carries and three touchdowns against the San Diego Chargers.[7][8] That game was his second game of over 200 yards rushing, a feat no other rookie has ever accomplished in a season.[48] In addition to the NFL rushing record in a single game, it took him past 1,000 yards rushing for the year after just eight games.[48] His 1,036 rushing yards represents the best eight-game performance by a rookie in NFL history.[49]

On November 11, 2007, just a week after his record-breaking performance against the San Diego Chargers, Peterson injured the lateral collateral ligament in his right knee in a game against the Green Bay Packers.[50] The injury occurred in the third quarter of a 34-0 defeat at Lambeau Field on a tackle by Packers cornerback Al Harris.[50] Almost a month after the injury, Peterson returned to action on December 2, 2007 against the Detroit Lions scoring two touchdowns and rushing for 116 yards.[51] On December 17 Adrian played in his first Monday Night Football game where he had 78 yards rushing, 17 yards receiving and 2 TDs. The next day Adrian was named as the starting running back for the 2008 NFC Pro Bowl team.On January 2, he was named The Associated Press NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year

For the season, Peterson finished with 238 carries for 1,341 yards, second to LaDainian Tomlinson for the rushing title. Tomlinson rushed for 1,474 yards, and Pittsburgh's Willie Parker finished with 1,316 yards.

On February 10, 2008, Adrian won the 2008 NFL Pro Bowl MVP award with 16 carries for 129 yards rushing along with 2 touchdowns. The 129 yards rushing was the 2nd most in Pro Bowl history. Adrian was the first rookie since Marshall Faulk in 1995 to win the Pro Bowl MVP award

NFL Records and Awards

Records
Most 200-yard rushing games for a rookie (2)
Most yards rushing in the first eight games (1,036)
Most yards rushing in a single game (296)


Awards
2008 NFL Pro Bowl MVP
2007 NFL AP Offensive Rookie of the Year
2007 Diet Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year
Two 2007 Player of the Month awards

Good Luck Adrian Peterson
"Good luck Adrian I know you will make an impact this year on the Vikings"
Trophy Club Dentist David Crumpton DDS.