Oklahoma's all-time leading rusher Samaje Perine declares for NFL Draft

On Monday night during the Sooners’ 35-19 win over Auburn, junior running back Samaje Perine passed former Heisman winner Billy Sims as well as Joe Washington, Adrian Peterson and Steve Owen to become OU’s all-time leading rusher with a career total of 4,122 yards. And now, he has announced as of Tuesday morning that he intends to enter the 2017 NFL Draft.

Thanks for the memories Samaje! OU's all-time rushing king... and even better person. #OUDNA pic.twitter.com/DFfVVwvxND

— Oklahoma Football (@OU_Football) January 3, 2017

The 5-foot-10, 235-pound running back wrote: “playing for Oklahoma has been an incredible experience. I am so grateful for the opportunity and everyone who has been a part of it. That, being said, after much consideration, I have decided to enter the 2017 NFL Draft.”

Perine averages six yards per carry and has scored 50 touchdowns in his career as a Sooner, even tallying 321 receiving yards over the three years.

Murray. Griffin. Owens. Peterson. Washington. Sims.

Perine is the rushing king. pic.twitter.com/HYECYPb4Sh

— Oklahoma Football (@OU_Football) January 3, 2017

He entered the Sugar Bowl needing 83 yards to surpass Sims’s record, and late in the fourth quarter, Perine did just that, receiving a congratulatory tweet from Sims upon breaking the record.