LOOK: Former Oklahoma State Star Running Back Receives Statue With Detroit Lions

A former Oklahoma State running back had a statue unveiled at Ford Field in Detroit for his time with the Lions.

Oklahoma State is a great program for running backs to come through. It has been under Mike Gundy's system, and even before then, when the Cowboys produced two Pro Football Hall of Fame talents in Thurman Thomas and Barry Sanders.

They've had some recent incredible running backs hit the NFL such as Chuba Hubbard and Jaylen Warren. 

Now, one of them is getting great recognition with the Detroit Lions. A statue of Sanders was unveiled at Ford Field, marking history as the first Lions player to ever receive a statue. 

It’s official! Here’s your first look at the 8-foot bronze statue of #Lions great Barry Sanders — one of the greatest players in NFL history. He is the 1st Lions player to receive a statue. pic.twitter.com/utDAksffbk

— Eric Woodyard (@E_Woodyard) September 16, 2023

Sanders took over 3,000 snaps with the Lions and accounts for 15,269 yards on the ground over the course of his ten-year career with them. He scored 99 rushing touchdowns with an additional ten receiving touchdowns. 

Not only is Sanders the greatest Lion of all time, but he's one of the best NFL players of all time, and is a product of Oklahoma State. He won the AP MVP in 1997 and was voted top three on three separate occasions. 

Sanders' NFL awards resume runs deep and he's got both the trophy case and resume to show for his elite play at the pro level. 

He spent three seasons playing with the Cowboys. His final season, of course, was the best. Sanders was playing alongside Thurman his first couple of seasons, hindering his ability to put up video game-like stats. 

Sanders produced 2,628 yards on the ground in his final season at Oklahoma State, adding 37 touchdowns on 344 touches. This earned him the No. 3 pick in the 1989 NFL Draft, obviously to the Lions. 

Soon, Sanders and Amazon Prime will be releasing a documentary highlighting his sudden retirement from the Lions ahead of training camp in 1999, as he was still on top of his game and the NFL at his position. Read more about that here. 

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