Never has Adrian Peterson been more deserving of his nickname of A.D. — which stands for All Day — than after his final carry of Oklahoma's 42-35 win against Texas A&M last week.

In the history books, it will look like an inconsequential 4-yard pickup. What that notation won't reveal is the freshman running back got his gain on a third-and-2 play that helped the Sooners, guarding their unbeaten record and No. 2 national ranking, milk the game clock down to 1:09.

He was back on the field mere minutes after having his dislocated left shoulder popped back into place.

"It was really something special," OU fullback J.D. Runnels said. "He made six people miss on that play."

The run left the can't-miss, top-ranked prospect from Palestine, Texas, with 101 yards and the NCAA freshman record of nine straight games over the century mark.

"Right now," junior offensive guard Chris Bush said of Peterson, "he's raw talent. Once he gets it all down … "

Already, Peterson, who ranks fifth nationally with a 152.6-yard rushing average, is in rare company. He reached 1,000 yards in seven games. The only other freshmen in NCAA Division I-A history to hit that number in their seventh game were Emmitt Smith and Marshall Faulk. Both have become perennial NFL All-Pro performers.

Neither, though, was in the position that the 6-foot-2, 210-pound Peterson now sits — a serious threat to become the first freshman to win the Heisman Trophy.

"He's the real deal," OU tackle Jammal Brown said of his pick as the nation's outstanding collegiate player. "We block well for him, but a lot of times the things he does are all him. He'll make the first guys miss and he'll outrun the last guy.

"He's the future, and will take Oklahoma a long ways in the next few years."

Peterson's growing Sooner legend first showed up during a grueling summer-workout schedule that included one hour of speed training and another of weightlifting four days a week.

"I didn't work out with him, but I heard about it," Bush said.

The word on Peterson — who as a high school senior rushed for 2,960 yards (averaging 11.7 per carry) and 32 touchdowns — continually came back to his amazing physical endurance.

"I'd read some of the articles about him and I thought ‘Who is this?'" Runnels said, as if he doubted Peterson could be as good as billed. "The first day of practice, he was all business. He didn't look like a 19-year-old kid."

Peterson showed the entire nation his goods with a 225-yard performance in Oklahoma's 12-0 win against Texas.

He added to his reputation as a finisher in a tight game at Kansas State the next week when he gained 64 yards on 13 fourth-quarter carries.

Against Kansas, Peterson punctuated a 122-yard effort by gaining 99 yards in the final 15 minutes.

And strong efforts against Oklahoma State and A&M left him with a 191.3-yard average in the three games the Sooners have faced Top 25 competition.

Despite his celebrity, Peterson retains a soft-spoken humility and almost shuns attention. For now, he conducts interviews only in person following Oklahoma's Tuesday practices.

"He's definitely been around. He's so level-headed," Runnels said.

That's through God's grace — and some amazing guidance by his mother, Bonita Brown, a three-time Texas high school champion in the 100 meters who went to the University of Houston on a track scholarship.

When Peterson was 7, he witnessed his year-older brother Brian die at the hands of a drunk driver while riding his bike. Six years later, his dad, a former basketball star at Idaho State, went to federal prison for laundering money obtained through the distribution of crack cocaine.

Although his father is still serving time, Peterson remains close with the man who gave him his nickname. The one who taught him a lot more than how to carry a football.

"He always made me do the right things, always pushing me to be the best at whatever I did," Peterson told The Oklahoman.

That trait, it would seem, has led to Peterson becoming more than just a player with a catchy nickname.

"I don't know if anyone could have anticipated this strong of year," Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said, " but I don't want to say we didn't, either. … He's really special."

All Day long.

Reach Curt McKeever at 473-7441 or cmckeever@journalstar.com.