Oklahoma State wearing throwback uniforms for 30th anniversary of Barry Sanders’ Heisman year

On a week in which we’re honoring the breakout performance from Detroit Lions running back Kerryon Johnson, it only makes sense that another former Lions running back is being honored by their alma mater.

Oklahoma State University will be wearing those awesome orange throwback uniforms this upcoming week to honor Hall of Fame running back Barry Sanders.

November will mark the 30th anniversary of Sanders’ Heisman Trophy-winning season. His 1988 season was one for the record books. That year Sanders rushed for a total of 2,628 yards (238.9 per game) and had 37 RUSHING TOUCHDOWNS. Both of those marks still remain atop the NCAA leaderboard 30 years later.

Sanders would forego his senior year and fall to the Detroit Lions with the third pick in the 1989 NFL Draft. In 10 seasons with the Lions, Sanders averaged a more modest 99.8 rushing yards per game and 5.0 yards per carry. In 1997, Sander eclipsed 2,000 rushing yards, becoming just the third player to do so. His 2,053 yards remains fourth-best of all time.

Sanders was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2004.