ESPN College Football

Oklahoma tailback Adrian Peterson's decision to forego his senior season for the 2007 NFL draft didn't come until Monday's declaration deadline arrived. And even then, said his head coach, there were second thoughts.

"I bet even today, even after saying it, he still has his reservations because of loyalty reasons: loyalty to his goals and to his teammates," said Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops.

Ultimately, Stoops said Peterson made a "business" decision based on research and discussions the OU coach helped initiate with NFL officials. The consensus among those officials was that Peterson would easily be selected in the top 10 of the April 28-29 draft.

"I'm all for it," said Stoops. "He's been great for us. He's been fun to watch compete. In the end, there's another life for him."

Peterson leaves without a national championship or Heisman Trophy -- two items likely to have been on his personal football wish list -- but his OU legacy seems secure. He rushed for 1,925 yards in 2004, setting an NCAA record for true freshmen. And despite an assortment of injuries that curtailed his production in his sophomore and junior seasons, Peterson finished as Oklahoma's third-leading career rusher.

Those ankle, shoulder and collarbone injuries are the only negatives of his OU career, and perhaps the only cause for concern among NFL general managers. Still, it was Peterson who insisted he play in the recent Jan. 1 Fiesta Bowl, an instant classic won by Boise State in overtime.

"There was no keeping him out of it," said Stoops, who watched Peterson rush for 77 yards in his return from a broken collarbone. "He doesn't like to sit there and protect himself, save himself for anything. His whole thing is, 'What would my teammates do?'"

In the past six months, Peterson has seen Oklahoma lose its starting quarterback to NCAA violations, lose a game to Oregon because of a botched replay, lose his place in the lineup because of the collarbone injury, and lose to Boise State in one of the most exciting bowl finishes in decades. But Peterson also experienced the joy of being reunited with his father, Nelson, who was released from custody last fall after serving nearly eight years in prisons and halfway houses.

Now Peterson begins the countdown to the NFL draft.

"Whoever gets him is going to get a great kid who loves to compete, who absolutely loves it," said Stoops. "He works hard, is a good teammate, and never looks to be coddled or treated like a prima donna, whatsoever. He kind of detests that."

Gene Wojciechowski is the senior national columnist for ESPN.com. You can contact him at gene.wojciechowski@espn3.com.