Sooners' Peterson to enter NFL Draft

Jan 15, 2007, 20:50 GMT

Norman, OK - Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson made it official on Monday and formally announced that he will bypass his final year of eligibility to enter the NFL Draft.

The Dallas Morning News said last week that Peterson had already made his decision, but he refuted the report and thought it through over the weekend.

'The last few days have been stressful,' said Peterson at a news conference Monday. 'I've been pondering a lot of things and looking at it from all the different angles, weighing the good and the bad.

'In the end, I think I just realized that this is a business decision and that it is time for me to take that next step. It wasn't easy. I haven't been sleeping much. I just put it all in God's hands.'

Peterson said he spoke with his family and Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops, who supported the decision.

'I know this has been a trying time for him and he just needs to know that we support him whole-heartedly,' said Stoops. 'Adrian has been a great individual player and a great teammate. His leadership and work ethic sent a strong example, and he competed with everything he had. He has given us all a lot of great moments and has been fun to watch. Now, he feels it's just time and we support that.'

Peterson will likely be a first-round pick in April's draft despite an injury- filled collegiate career. He suffered shoulder and ankle injuries, along with a broken collarbone during his three-year stay in Norman.

That didn't stop him from notching 4,045 rushing yards with 41 touchdowns. He ranks third on the school's all-time rushing yards list, behind only Heisman Trophy winner Billy Sims (4,118) and Joe Washington (4,071).

The Palestine, Texas native exploded for 1,925 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2004 to become the first freshman to finish second in the Heisman Trophy voting.

'There were some things that we didn't accomplish,' Peterson added. 'I didn't really do all of the things I set out to do [in college]. Those things, the guys and the love for college football were things I thought about.'

Peterson eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark in each of his three seasons, finishing the 2006 campaign with 1,012 yards despite playing only seven games. He fractured his clavicle six games into the season after diving into the end zone at the end of a 53-yard touchdown run against Iowa State, but returned to play in Oklahoma's Fiesta Bowl loss to Boise State.

© 2007 The Sports Network