We are ranking the Top 10 All-Time Best NFL Offensive Players from Texas high school football. This list is based solely on each player’s NFL career — MVPs, total stats, All-Pro teams, Super Bowl wins, and Pro Bowl selections.
Landing at #3 (Tie) is Adrian Peterson, a Palestine, Texas native who became one of the most feared and relentless running backs the league has ever seen.
Peterson is tied with Eric Dickerson at #3 because their careers mirror each other in many ways. Both dominated the NFL for a 5–6 year stretch, piling up records and awards. Peterson holds the edge with an NFL MVP Award and the single-game rushing record (296 yards). Meanwhile, Dickerson still owns the single-season rushing record (2,105 yards) and the playoff rushing record (248 yards). Neither player won a Super Bowl, which ultimately kept them out of the top two spots, but their overwhelming impact on the game makes them deserving of this shared honor.
Early Life and High School Career
Adrian Peterson was born in Palestine, Texas, to a family with a strong athletic background. Overcoming personal tragedy and adversity, Peterson became a standout star at Palestine High School. His combination of size, speed, and strength made him a dominant force, rushing for 2,960 yards and 32 touchdowns as a senior.
Regarded as the top recruit in the country, Peterson went on to star at the University of Oklahoma, where he immediately set an NCAA freshman record with 1,925 rushing yards in 2004.
College Career at Oklahoma
Peterson’s freshman season at Oklahoma remains one of the greatest in college football history. He finished as the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy, the first freshman ever to do so at the time. Despite injuries later in his college career, Peterson left Oklahoma with 4,041 rushing yards in just three seasons, cementing his status as a top NFL prospect.
In the 2007 NFL Draft, he was selected 7th overall by the Minnesota Vikings.
NFL Career and Achievements
Peterson wasted no time making an impact in the NFL:
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NFL MVP (2012)
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NFL Offensive Player of the Year (2012)
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NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year (2007)
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4× First-Team All-Pro
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7× Pro Bowl Selection
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3× NFL Rushing Leader (2008, 2012, 2015)
As a rookie, Peterson set the NFL record for most rushing yards in a single game with 296 yards against the San Diego Chargers. He finished his rookie season with 1,341 yards and 12 touchdowns, quickly establishing himself as one of the league’s premier backs.
In 2012, just months after tearing his ACL and MCL, Peterson came within nine yards of breaking Dickerson’s single-season rushing record. His incredible 2,097 rushing yards earned him the NFL MVP Award, making him the most recent non-quarterback to win the honor as of 2024.
Peterson finished his career with:
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14,918 rushing yards (5th all-time)
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120 rushing touchdowns (5th all-time)
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2,474 receiving yards
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6 receiving touchdowns
His 4.6 yards per carry across a 15-year career highlights his remarkable consistency.
Legacy
Adrian Peterson’s legacy is undeniable. Even after suffering injuries that would have ended most careers, he returned stronger, defying expectations year after year.
His combination of explosive runs, brutal power, and remarkable durability made him one of the most complete backs the NFL has ever seen. Whether leading the league in rushing yards, setting single-game records, or making improbable comebacks, Peterson’s greatness was always on display.
He remains a true legend of Texas high school football and one of the greatest running backs in NFL history.
Key Highlights:
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Most rushing yards in a single NFL game (296)
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NFL MVP and Offensive Player of the Year (2012)
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3× NFL Rushing Leader
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Top 5 in all-time rushing yards and touchdowns
