Oklahoma State University Athletics
OSU Football All-Americans
July 06, 2006 | Cowboy Football
TWO-TIME HONOREES
 Bob Fenimore, HB Woodward, Okla. 1944, 1945 Current Records Held
Punt returns in a game (9) vs. Texas Tech in 1943. Punt return yards in a game (181) vs. Texas Tech in 1943. Interception return yards in a game (112) vs. Denver in 1944.
If Bob Fenimore seemed like he was all over the field, it is probably because he was. Fenimore excelled on the offensive side of the ball, the defensive side of the ball, and in special teams play. His exceptional talent and play earned the "Blond Bomber" All-America honors in 1944 and 1945.
The leader of OSU teams that went 8-1 with a Cotton Bowl victory in 1944 and a perfect 9-0 and a Sugar Bowl win in 1945, Fenimore's play was legendary. From his halfback position, he established himself as one of the nation's finest players.
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The numbers speak for themselves. In 1944, he led the nation in total offense (1,758 yards), was third in rushing (899), eighth in passing (997), ninth in scoring (77), and 13th in punting (37.3).
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In OSU's undefeated 1945 season, he was the national leader in both total offense (1,641) and rushing (1,119), while ranking seventh in punting (39.0) and 13th in scoring (72).
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His 18 interceptions during his OSU career are still a school record, and his 4,627 career yards has been eclipsed only by Mike Gundy (7,749). Fenimore was a first round draft choice of the Chicago Bears in 1947.
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| Terry Miller, HB |
| Colorado Springs, Colo. |
| 1976, 1977 |
| Current Records Held |
| Points in a game (30) vs. Kansas State in 1976. |
| Touchdowns in a game (5) vs. Kansas State in 1976. |
Only three players in Big Eight history have rushed for 4,000 yards during their career and Terry Miller is one of them. Mike Rozier of Miller owns three of the nine 1,000-yard rushing seasons in OSU history. As a sophomore in 1975, he gained 1,026 yards and then, during All-America season in 1976 and 1977, he led the Big Eight with 1,541 as a junior and 1,680 as a senior. Those numbers ranked fifth in the nation in 1976 and third in 1977.  Miller was tabbed as the Big Eight Offensive Player of the Year in both 1976 and 1977.  Miller's 45 career touchdowns at OSU still rank second on the school list behind the 55 Barry Sanders scored from 1986-1988.  Miller was a first-round draft choice of the Buffalo Bills in 1978. His jersey number 43 is one of three retired numbers at       Leslie O'Neal, DT Little Rock, Ark. 1984, 1985  O'Neal was a dominant force on teams which allowed just 28 touchdowns combined in those two seasons, the lowest totals ever at OSU.  He was named the Big Eight's Defensive Play of the Year in 1984 and earned All-Big Eight honors in each of his last three seasons as a Cowboy.  O'Neal finished his career at OSU fifth in all-time tackles with 351, including a tie for the 10th best season in Cowboy history with 134 tackles in 1984.  He was a first-round draft choice of the San Diego Chargers in 1986. O'Neal retired following the 1999 season. During his career, the defensive end was selected to the Pro Bowl six times, while recording 136 career sacks.  Mark Moore, DB Nacogdoches, Texas 1985, 1986
Current Records Held Interception return yards in a season (193) in 1985.
Mark Moore was one of the most feared defensive players, not only in the Big Eight Conference, but around the nation. The hard-hitting
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During his All-America seasons, OSU allowed just 135 yards per game passing in 1985 and 121 in 1986, the lowest two averages since 1978.
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| Thurman Thomas, TB |
| |
| 1985, 1987 |
| Current Records Held |
| Career rushing attempts (898) from 1984-1987. |
| Career rushing yards (4,595) from 1984-1987. |
The all-time leading rusher in
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In 1985, he finished the season with 1,553 yards, good for fourth in the nation. In 1987, his 1,613 yards were the third-most nationally that year. His 21 career 100-yard rushing games is second in OSU history only to Terry Miller's 26.
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A knee injury prevented Thomas from being a first-round draft choice, but
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His No. 34 jersey is one of three that have been retired at
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| Barry Sanders, TB |
| 1987, 1988 |
| Current Records Held |
| Rushing yards in a game (332) vs. Texas Tech in 1988. |
| Rushing yards in a season (2,628) in 1988. |
| Average yards per carry for a season (7.64) in 1988. |
| Average yards per carry in his career (6.80) from 1986-1988. |
| Total offense in a season (2,628) in 1988. |
| Points in a game (30) vs. Tulsa and vs. Kansas in 1988. |
| Points in a season (234) in 1988. |
| Points in a career (330) from 1986-1988. |
| Touchdowns in a season (39) in 1988. |
| Touchdowns in a career (55) from 1986-1988. |
| Longest kickoff return (100) three times. |
While playing behind starting tailback Thurman Thomas in 1987, Barry Sanders had to make his mark somewhere on the field during his sophomore season. He did that returning kickoffs and punts and in fact, his exploits earned him All-America honors as a return man.
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With the departure of Thomas, Sanders became the go-to guy in 1988 and he responded with a season that may not be matched for years, if ever. He established 34 NCAA records, while posting the best rushing season in college football history.
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He carried for 2,628 yards and recorded four 300-plus yard games during his record-breaking season. His domination of college football that season earned him the Heisman Trophy and helped make the
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Despite playing just one complete season as the starting tailback before skipping his senior season, Sanders ranks as the ninth leading career rusher in Big Eight history, and his 330 points are just one touchdown shy of the league record.
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Sanders was a first-round draft choice of the Detroit Lions in 1989. The No. 21 jersey Sanders wore as a Cowboy is one of just three numbers retired at
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SINGLE-SEASON ALL-AMERICANSÂ
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1946
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Known to his teammates as 'Felix the Cat', Neill Armstrong helped guide Oklahoma A&M during its glory days. He was a four-year letterman from 1943-1946 for head coach Jim Lookabaugh's Aggies.
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Armstrong, a native of  In A&M's vaunted single-wing offense, Armstrong twice led the nation in receiving, while teammate Bob Fenimore led the nation in total offense. As a senior in 1946, he caught 32 passes for 479 yards.  Armstrong was a first-round draft choice of the Philadelphia Eagles and played from 1947-1951. Armstrong then joined the coaching ranks, eventually becoming the head coach of the Chicago Bears from 1978-1981.   Jim Wood, DE 1958  Jim Wood was OSU's third All-American and the first since 1946.  Wood, who was honored as a defensive end, played a little bit of everything for the Pokes. On the offensive side of the ball, Wood led the team in receiving with 21 catches for 282 yards. He also handled the punting chores for the Cowboys, averaging 39.3 yards per kick.  Wood was a third-round draft choice of the Washington Redskins in 1959.   Harry Cheatwood, DB 1967  Named after president Harry Truman, Harry Truman Cheatwood made a name for himself picking off passes in  Cheatwood was honored as an All-American in 1967 for his work at safety. He logged 127 tackles in 1967 and 266 for his career, both good enough for 16th in the OSU record book.  He also tied for the team lead in interceptions in 1966 (2) and 1967 (3), and earned first-team All-Big Eight plaudits as a senior.   Jon Kolb, C 1968  Jon Kolb anchored the  Kolb was also a two-time all-conference selection, earning that distinction in 1967 and 1968.  Following his senior season, Kolb participated in the Senior Bowl, the North-South Shrine Bowl, the Coaches' All-American Game, and the College All-Star Game.  After being selected in the third round of the NFL Draft by   John Ward, T 1969  In 1969, John Ward earned All-America honors on the football field and on the wrestling mat for OSU.  The star offensive tackle anchored the Cowboys' line from 1967-1969.  Ward displayed his skills at four all-star games, including the East-West Classic, Senior Bowl, Coaches' All- American Game and the College All-Star Game.  Ward was a first-round draft choice of the Minnesota Vikings in 1970. He spent five seasons with the Vikings, before splitting the 1976 season between   Sequin, 1973  A two-time All-Big Eight performer, Cleveland Vann captured All-America honors in 1973.  Vann racked up 241 tackles in his three-year career for the Pokes, good enough for a 20th- place tie on OSU's career charts. He lead the team in tackles both his junior (122) and senior (117) seasons. His 122 tackles in 1972 is tied for 19th on OSU's single-season list.  The linebacker showcased his skills at the 1973 Blue-Gray game and the East-West Classic before being drafted in the fifth round by the Miami Dolphins.   Alvin Brown, S 1973  Alvin Brown covered the  Brown's outstanding 1973 season earned him All-  Brown also played in the 1973 Hula Bowl.   James White, T 1975  Nicknamed 'Duck', James White was  White accounted for 203 tackles in his career, including 86 tackles during his All-America season of 1975.  White also played on the Cowboys' victorious Fiesta Bowl team in 1974.  A first-round draft choice of the Minnesota Vikings in 1976, White played eight years in the NFL and was a member of the Vikings' legendary 'Purple People Eaters' defense.   Phillip Dokes, DT 1975  Phillip Dokes instilled fear in the hearts of opponents, prowling along the Pokes? defensive front from 1974-1976.  He was a two-time All-Big Eight selection (1974, 1976) and was honored as an All-American in 1976.  Dokes' 277 tackles in 13th in the Cowboy record book. He turned in his career best in 1976 with 100 tackles, while leading OSU with 92 tackles in 1975.  Dokes was also a two-time academic all-conference selection (1974, 1975).  In 1976, Dokes played in the Blue-Gray Game and the Senior Bowl before being drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the first round.  Dokes spent two years on the Bills defensive line.   Derrel Gofourth, C Parsons, 1976  One of the most decorated offensive linemen in OSU history, Derrel Gofourth anchored the  Twice chosen as an All-Big Eight performer (1975-1976), Gofourth captured All-America honors in 1976.  Gofourth played in four all-star games, including the Blue-Gray Game, Hula Bowl, Senior Bowl, and the Japan Bowl.  Gofourth was a seventh-round selection of the Green Bay Packers in 1977. The Parsons,   John Corker, LB 1978  This linebacker was everywhere for  Corker is the lone Cowboy to post four seasons of at least 100 tackles. In his sophomore and junior seasons, Corker posted OSU's 12th and 13th best all-time single season tackle totals at 132 and 130, respectively. He was also recognized as the Big Eight Defensive Player of the Year in 1978, the first OSU player to be named as such.  As a freshman, the  Corker was a fifth-round draft choice of the Houston Oilers in 1980. He spent three seasons in   Ricky Young, LB 1981  Ricky Young followed John Corker as OSU's dominant linebacker.  Young was a three-time All-Big Eight selection. In 1980, he was the Big Eight Player of the Year, a year in which the  Young then earned All-America honors in 1981 following a season in which he collected 128 tackles.  Young was a 12th-round draft choice of the Chicago Bears in 1982.   Gary Lewis, DT 1982  Gary Lewis solidified the Cowboy defensive front from 1980 to 1982. The defensive tackle utilized his speed to disrupt the opponent's offense.  Lewis garnered All-America honors during his senior season of 1982. He was also a two-time All-Big Eight performer in 1981 and 1982.  Lewis participated in the 1982 Blue-Gray Game and the Senior Bowl. He was a fifth round draft choice of   Larry Roach, K 1982  Larry Roach's name is peppered throughout the  Roach was a three-time All-Big Eight selection and an All-American performer in 1982.  The  His 68 field goals is the most ever by a Cowboy. His five field goals against  Roach kicked the longest field goal in OSU history, a 56-yarder against   Ernest Anderson, TB 1982  Ernest Anderson was the third in a long line of running backs that helped give   He turned in the performance of his career against    Rod Brown, DB 1984  Roaming the  The fleet-of-foot, hard-hitting Brown picked off six passes in 1984, helping the Cowboys to a national ranking as high as No. 3 as well as a Gator Bowl win.  In 1984, Brown also racked up 50 tackles, eight pass deflections, one sack and one recovered fumble.  During his career,   Hart Lee Dykes, WR 1988  From 1985-1988, Hart Lee Dykes electrified Cowboy crowds catching nearly every pass within his reach.  The wideout left OSU as not only the top pass catcher in Cowboy history, but tops in Big Eight history.  In his career, Dykes caught 203 passes for 3,171 yards. His reception totals of 60, 61 and 74 during his sophomore, junior and senior seasons, respectively, are the second-, third-, and fourth-best single-season totals in OSU history. His senior season yardage total is a Big Eight record as well.  Dykes also caught 29 touchdown passes in his career, a school and conference record.  Dykes played on one of the most prolific offenses in history, averaging 47.5 points per game in 1988. In his four years, OSU teams went 36-11 and went to three bowl games.  Dykes was a first-round draft choice of the New England Patriots in 1989, the 16th-overall selection. Debilitating knee injuries cut his career short after just two seasons and 26 games in the NFL.   Gerald Hudson, TB 1990  Gerald Hudson continued a long line of great running backs at OSU in 1990.  He became the fourth Cowboy to lead the nation in rushing, pounding out 1,642 yards, the fourth-best total in OSU history.     Alonzo Mayes, TE 1997  Alonzo Mayes provided a large target for OSU quarterbacks during his stint in  The Oklahoma City Douglass product hauled in 92 passes in his career, seventh on the OSU all-time receptions chart. During his All-America season of 1997, Mayes caught 29 passes for 424 yards.  Mayes helped lead the Cowboys to their first bowl game since 1988 and an 8-4 record in 1997. He was also a two-time All-Big 12 selection at tight end.  Mayes was selected in the fourth round by the Chicago Bears in the 1998 NFL draft. He was traded to the Miami Dolphins during the 2000 season and will begin his fourth year in the NFL this fall.   Â
