He has the speed to get to the outside. He has the field vision to find seams the width of his hips. And he has the power — so much of it — to take a defender, pop him in the chest and get three extra yards before finally getting gang-tackled to the turf.

The amazing thing is, Adrian Peterson is only 19, a true freshman who was roaming the field of Palestine High in Texas one year ago.

“He’s one of the best freshman backs in the last 20 or so years in college football,” Kansas University coach Mark Mangino said.

The Jayhawks have the task of shutting Peterson down today, when KU and No. 2 Oklahoma square off at noon at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.

The problem is, Peterson’s not the lone Sooner weapon on the offense. Not by a long shot.

Taking the snaps for OU is quarterback Jason White, who merely won the Heisman Trophy last year after passing for 40 touchdowns for the 12-2 Sooners.

If the Jayhawks want to contain Oklahoma’s playmakers, it can’t be by focusing on just one of them. Teams were able to do that somewhat last year without Peterson around, but even then it didn’t help much.

“If anything, I see them running the ball more than last year,” Mangino said. “They force you to defend the entire field.”

Peterson helped open up Oklahoma’s offensive options to the point where many teams don’t know what to expect. Through six games, he has rushed for 901 yards, including 225 on 32 carries in a 12-0 victory over Texas, the No. 5 team in the nation at the time.

Some were toss sweeps where Peterson simply outsprinted linebackers up the sideline. Some were inside the offensive tackles, where he quickly established acceleration and plowed over a Longhorn or two.

Oklahoma quarterback Jason White (18) hands the ball to running back Adrian Peterson in the Sooners' 31-21 victory Saturday over Kansas State. White is the reigning Heisman Trophy winner and Peterson is a candidate for this year's award.

KU is expecting much of the same today.

“He’s a heck of a runner,” linebacker Banks Floodman said. “We’re going to have to swarm him. He does not go down by one tackle. He’ll run you over.”

If the Jayhawks think too one-dimensionally, though, White will make them pay. The senior threw for 256 yards and four touchdowns in a 31-21 victory over Kansas State.

His favorite target is Mark Clayton, who has 391 yards receiving and four touchdowns on the season.

The skill players are helped by a solid offensive line. OU’s offense is helped by a ferocious defense. Both facets are helped by excellent special teams led by punt-return specialist Antonio Perkins, who has returned an NCAA record-tying eight punts for touchdowns in his career. He returned three punts for scores in one game last year against UCLA.

The Sooners aren’t as perfect as they seem. They are 6-0, but none of their three Big 12 Conference victories has been a rout. The largest margin was a 15-point home victory over Texas Tech on Oct. 2.

But the Sooners hide the blemishes well, and KU will have to search to find holes to expose in Oklahoma’s vaunted attack.

“I love the challenge,” wide receiver Mark Simmons said. “It lets us know where we stand. If we play the best, it’ll bring out the best in us.”

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