Adrian Peterson Jr. was on the Forty Acres this weekend.
The Texas Longhorns and first-year running backs coach Jabbar Juluke are tasked with replacing the group's entire production from last season behind Arch Manning.
Not only that, Juluke takes over with the intention to keep Texas as a premier landing spot for the nation's top high-school and transfer rushers, as the Longhorns have built a reputation of being an NFL pipeline. Running back products like Bijan Robinson, Jonathon Brooks, and Jaydon Blue are recent notables, not to mention legends like Ricky Williams, Cedric Benson, and Earl Campbell.
Head coach Steve Sarkisian is content with the group this year as star transfers Hollywood Smothers and Raleek Brown headline a strong one-two. But as any head coach knows, the recruiting calendar is moving nonstop, and Sark tapped into a Texas rivalry to potentially find the program's next big-name tailback.
The Red River Rivalry needs no explanation in Texas and Oklahoma, where the two state's flagship institutions meet annually around Thanksgiving time in Dallas - right at the midway point separating Austin and Norman on a map.
Longhorns fans are painstakingly familiar with Adrian Peterson, the Sooners running back who nearly won the Heisman Trophy as a freshman and went on to be an NFL star for a short while.
Despite rushing for over 4,000 yards in three seasons at Oklahoma, it's worth noting how Peterson was just 1-2 against the Longhorns in his career. He averaged 114 rushing yards per game in those contests (but note the disparities between 225 yards in 2004 and just 10 in '05). Still, Peterson recorded just one rushing touchdown against Texas.
Now it's time for Longhorns fans to learn the name Adrian Peterson Jr.
Feel old yet?
Peterson Jr. is a class of 2030 prospect entering his freshman year at Ridge Point High School in the southern suburbs of Houston. According to his X (formally Twitter) bio, Peterson Jr. is a tri-sport athlete in football, baseball and track & field.
He's also shared that he's beginning his recruitment process by competing in camps held at college football programs. Peterson Jr. was a recent participant in the Longhons' "Texas Bash."
Juluke was in attendance, beginning to lay the ground work of a potential recruitment that would put a dent in the Texas-OU rivalry.
Unlike his shifty ball-carrier father, Peterson Jr. is actually listed as a wide receiver on his prospect page on 247Sports. He tagged Juluke and Texas wide receiver coach Chris Jackson, possibly suggesting that he could pursue both skill disciplines at the next level.
He has a load of high school ball to complete, and a body to grow into, until we get to that point, but Peterson Jr. has already begun garnering Division I interest. His 247 page lists offers from Baylor, Miami, Florida State, Minnesota, and Missouri State, among others.
