Sports > November 15, 2007

By Nick Oliphant | Staff writer

We students at Wake Forest are part of a privileged generation. In our lifetimes, we have seen the Clinton/Lewinski sex scandal, mindless MTV reality shows, Cheaters, Shannon Sharpe trying to read football highlights (if you haven’t seen this, watch any CBS halftime show this Sunday; it’s priceless) and the demise of Britney Spears.

And now, for the next decade or so, we get to watch Adrian Peterson play football.

His nickname says everything: “All Day.”

He will run over, around and through opposing defenses all day, as seen in his record-setting performance Nov. 4 against the Chargers: 30 carries, 296 yards, three touchdowns.

His jukes seem almost rehearsed because they are so effortless, and his speed is unreal for a 220-pound back.

Tampa Bay coach Jon Gruden has already compared him to all-time great Jim Brown, sparking a debate as to which great running back he most resembles.

All this hype has come after just nine professional games.

Hype is nothing new for this phenomenal athlete.

He was the top-ranked recruit coming out of high school.

He announced his decision to attend Oklahoma on national TV after the Army All-American game. The Palestine, Texas, native spurned his home state in favor of the mighty Sooners.

As a freshman, he was almost a freak of nature.

Picture how LeBron James looked for a high school basketball player. That was Adrian Peterson on the football field.

He probably could have played in the NFL immediately; instead he set several freshman rushing records and finished second in Heisman voting, the highest finish by a freshman.

The only thing that could slow him down throughout his college career was injuries, and he still ran for over 1,000 yards his sophomore year while playing just eight games on basically one leg. So this past April, he had readied himself for the NFL draft.

The illustrious list of players taken ahead of him: JaMarcus Russell (hasn’t played a game), Calvin Johnson (great talent, but maybe Peterson would have kept the Lions from rushing for -18 yards last game), Joe Thomas, “He Who Shall Not Be Named” (a certain Clemson defensive end), Levi Jones (who?) and LaRon Landry. Christmas came early for the Minnesota Vikings, who snatched up Adrian Peterson faster than Rosie O’Donnell snatches up the last cupcake.

Peterson has amazed in the NFL from his very first game.

In that debut, he ran for over 100 yards and caught a 60-yard touchdown pass. And he has had all this success without any quarterback help whatsoever.

Tarvaris Jackson is a cross between Donovan NcNabb with a sports hernia and Daunte Culpepper with a torn ACL, with just a touch of Aaron Brooks’ decision making thrown in. Brooks Bollinger looks as lost as Wake students trying to do the Soulja Boy.

Kelly Holcomb is still living off his 2002 playoff performance for the Browns, one inexplicable game in an otherwise lousy career.

So now, each defense goes into the game knowing that Minnesota giving the ball to Peterson is as predictable as Wake calling an inside draw on third and long, yet he still gets his yards.

Again, an injury has held him back. He will miss at least his next game with a torn knee ligament.

But if he can stay healthy, he has the talent to become one of the greatest running backs in NFL history.

And if we’re lucky, we’ll all have the privilege to watch.