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Barry Re-wrote the Lions' rushing record book in his rookie season -- 1,470 yards made the club's single-season rushing mark and the rookie mark previously held by Billy Sims, while his 14 rushing touchdowns also established a new Detroit record. Named first-team All-Pro by Associated Press, College and Pro Football Newsweekly, Pro Football Writers of America, Football Digest, The Sporting News and Pro Football Weekly Voted NFL Rookie of the Year by Sports Illustrated, The Sporting News, NFL Films and Pro Football Writers of America. NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year by Pro Football Weekly, Football Digest, College and Pro Football Newsweekly and Associated Press Selected first-team All-NFC by Football News and United Press International NFC Rookie of the Year by UPI Lions' Offensive MVP and the Lions' Quarterback Club Offensive MVP Season came with first career trip to the Pro Bowl. Returned five kickoffs for 118 yards (23.6 avg.)... Signed a contract on Sept. 8th. Two days later in the season opener vs. Phoenix (9/10), Sanders electrified the Silverdome crowd entering the contest in the third quarter with a 18-yard dash on his first NFL carry. Running a variation of only one play, he finished the day with 71 yards and a TD on nine carries. The following week at NY Giants (9/17), he had 57 yards rushing in 12 carries and also exploded for 96 yards on six receptions.
Cracked the 100-yard barrier for the first time in his pro career vs. Chicago (9/24) with 126 yards in 18 carries in just over two quarters of play (108 yards on 14 carries in the first half)... It was the first time a Lion rushed for 100 yards since Garry James' 140 yards at Green Bay Oct. 12, 1986... Left the Chicago game in the third quarter with a hip-pointer... Severely hampered by the hip pointer vs. Pittsburgh (10/1), rushing five times for one yard and leaving the contest in the second quarter... Although not 100% (from hip pointer), he bounced back with 99 yards rushing on 23 carries at Minnesota (10/8)... His performance prompted Vikings' Head Coach Jerry Burns to ask officials to inspect Sanders' jersey to determined if it was slickened with silicon spray... Inactive the following week at Tampa Bay (10-15) due to the lingering hip-pointer... In the return bout with Minnesota (10/22), the Vikings assigned two players to "shadow" Sanders as he rushed for 59 yards on 15 carries... Made his debut as a kickoff returner vs. the Vikings and returned his first kickoff 45 yards, but it was nullified due to a penalty... Dazzled the Packers in Milwaukee (10/29) with 184 yards on 30 carries (123 yards on 19 carries in the first half) and also returned two kickoffs for 41 yards... Scored the game-deciding TD vs. Green Bay (11/12) in a 41-yard all-Sanders drive, including a one-handed 20-yard reception on a third-and-five situation from the Green Bay 25-yard line... Shattered the 1,000-yard barrier with a 145-yard performance on 28 carries on Thanksgiving Day vs. Cleveland (11/23) -- first Lion to reach 1,000 yards since Sims in 1983... Propelled Detroit to a 27-17 victory at Chicago (12/10) with 120 yards and two TD's on 26 carries... Also returned two kickoffs for 59 yards vs. Bears, including a long of 43 yards where he was pushed out of bounds by kicker Kevin Butler to save a potential TD return
 
The winner of the 1988 Heisman Trophy his junior and final season at Oklahoma State, Sanders established 13 NCAA season records... Owns the Cowboys' school record for TD's with 56... Oklahoma State's third all-time leading rusher with 3,797... Lettered twice in football and basketball at North (Wichita, Kan.) High School... His "P.A.Y.-By-Play" program benefits Oakland County (Mich.) Special Olympics as fans donate a penny for each yard he gained... Donated $200,000 to Paradise Baptist Church in Wichita... Photo is reproduced 15-stories-high on the side of a Downtown Detroit building in a Nike ad... Appeared on the "Late Show" with David Letterman in January, 1995... Maintains year-round residence in Michigan... Has a son, Barry James, 3... Full name is Barry Sanders.
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#20 Barry Sanders