There are 27 days left in our Countdown to Kickoff, and for today’s subject I want to reflect on a key member of Bud Wilkinson’s 1956 national championship team, halfback J.D. ‘Jakie’ Sandefer III.
Jakie Sandefer, a Breckenridge, Texas product, was a fine ballplayer for Wilkinson from ‘56 to ’58, and his contributions helped the Oklahoma Sooners achieve their historic 47-game winning streak. Beyond his production on the field, Sandefer is most fondly remembered as the man who volunteered to be Prentice Gautt’s roommate during road trips.
Of course, the reason this is significant is because that particular roommate (and two-time All-Big Eight tailback) was Oklahoma’s first African-American football player.