OU football: It’s a revealing week for Sooners
BY JAKE TROTTER
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82
Published: January 11, 2009
Quarterback Sam Bradford’s decision concerning the NFL could greatly impact the Sooners next season. AP photo
NORMAN — Next season, Oklahoma could be a team that challenges for the Big 12 title and BCS National Championship.
Or, it could be a team that resembles the 2005
Sooners, which underwent a rebuilding phase after losing numerous starters.
This week will be revealing about which team OU fields in 2009.
Thursday is the deadline for underclassmen to declare for April’s NFL Draft, and several key OU underclassmen will spend the next few days deciding whether to return to
Norman for another season or leave early for the draft.
No decision will be more significant than that of quarterback
Sam Bradford, who is considered by most draft analysts to be one of the top two quarterbacks eligible for the draft and a potential top-10 pick.
Even though he’s a sophomore, Bradford is draft eligible because he is three years removed from high school.
If Bradford returns, he’ll have to acclimate to an offensive line that will be replacing at least four starters as well as a receiving rotation decimated by graduation that only returns
Ryan Broyles.
There is a possibility Bradford might have a new quarterbacks coach, too.
The Minnesota
Star Tribune and
St. Paul Pioneer Press are reporting that Sooner quarterbacks coach
Josh Heupel is a leading candidate for the job of offensive coordinator at the
University of Minnesota.
Heupel was raised in
Aberdeen,
S.D. — 275 miles from
Minneapolis — and growing up was a fan of the
Golden Gophers.
Minnesota head coach
Tim Brewster is expected to name an offensive coordinator this week.
Bradford and perhaps Heupel, however, aren’t the only ones with decisions to make.
Junior tight end
Jermaine Gresham, OU’s MVP in the national title game, said he was told by the
NFL advisory committee that he projects as a first-rounder in the upcoming draft.
Gresham, who finished with 14 touchdowns this season, said Thursday night he will make a decision after discussing his options with his family.
All-American defensive tackle
Gerald McCoy, a third-year sophomore, hasn’t revealed his draft projection, but many draft analysts believe McCoy could be a first-round selection, too.
Junior right tackle
Trent Williams, the only underclassman on the Sooner offensive line this season, said he received a second-round projection and that he will also consider the draft. If Williams comes back for his senior year, he will probably be moved to left tackle to anchor an inexperienced offensive line.
Running back
DeMarco Murray, a third-year sophomore, and junior defensive tackle
DeMarcus Granger are also eligible for the draft. Both are recovering from surgery, however, and are likely to return to school.
Several other Sooners are draft eligible, including
running back Chris Brown, tight end
Brody Eldridge, defensive ends
Jeremy Beal and
Auston English, linebacker
Keenan Clayton and cornerbacks
Dominique Franks and
Brian Jackson.
But all are expected back in Norman next season.
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craig, Oklahoma city - Jan 11, 2009 at 1:26 pm
Typical ignoramus