Greg Pruitt

Greg Pruitt earned consensus All-American honors in 1971 and 1972 as a halfback at the University of Oklahoma where his trademarks were darting moves and lightening-like acceleration.

Still owning the school record for most yards in a game with 294 against Kansas State in 1971, Pruitt also had the record for all-purpose running yards in a game (374), season (1,970) and career (5,784). His 9.41 yards per rushing attempt in 1971 is an NCAA record.

He finished third in the Heisman voting in 1971 and second in 1972. He was chosen as the NCAA's 1972 Football Player of the Year by the Pigskin Club of Washington, D.C. He rushed for 1,665 yards as a junior, but was injured with three games left in his senior year and was denied a second straight 1,000-yards season by 62 yards. Up to that point, Steve Owens was the only conference player in history to accomplish that record.

In 1978, he was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the second round and spent two seasons chiefly as kickoff and punt returner. He led the Browns in rushing five consecutive years until 1979 and boosted his number of 100-yard rushing games to 17 by the close 1978, despite a serious calf injury that cost him nearly five games.

Pruitt was named the Browns' Offensive Player of the Year in 1974 and received the same award three years later when he was chosen a third time for the Pro Bowl and named second-team All-Pro.

In the Spring of 1982, he was traded to the Oakland Raiders. At 31 years old, Pruitt's experience was an advantage to the Raiders, as he averaged 26.5 yard on kickoff returns. The next year he set a league record for single season yardage (668) and was third in the league with 11.5-yard per return average. Included was a Raider record 97-yard return for a touchdown against Washington.

He was rewarded his fifth invitation to the Pro Bowl - his first as a return specialist. He helped the Raiders to victory in the Super Bowl XVIII over Washington. In 1975, Pruitt was inducted into the Helms Football Hall of Fame.