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Iglesias and Greshman lead the way with 11 receptions, but Kelly has five TDs
Iglesias and Greshman lead the way with 11 receptions, but Kelly has five TDs

By Scott Wright

Published: September 15, 2007

NORMAN — In just two games, receiver Malcolm Kelly already has five touchdown catches to lead the nation.

But Kelly doesn't even lead his own team in receptions.

That's because quarterback Sam Bradford is spreading the ball to many receivers, making it difficult for defenses to key on Kelly.

Even though Kelly is off to a monstrous start averaging 27.5 yards per catch, receiver Juaquin Iglesias and tight end Jermaine Gresham lead OU with 11 receptions each.

And already, 10 different receivers have a catch.

"Sam is not locking in on a guy, which is a great quality,” offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson said. "What you want to do is read the play, and he's processing it well.”

Bradford's final snap against Miami underscored how he's been able to involve several players in the attack.

From the Miami 9-yard line, OU coaches called a play designed for Kelly.

But the Hurricanes had Kelly covered.

So Bradford checked off his main read and dumped the ball to Dane Zaslaw, and the fullback took it in for his first career touchdown.

"We were looking for Malcolm, but I saw (Zaslaw) wide open in the flat,” Bradford said. "So I just took it.”

Last year, Kelly caught 10 touchdown passes from quarterback Paul Thompson, but no other receiver caught more than three.

This year, Gresham already has two.

"We don't have any main guy we like to throw to,” tight end Joe Jon Finley said. "We have several star receivers and three tight ends who can catch the ball, too.”

No tight end, however, has caught the ball like Gresham, who's been instrumental in OU's versatile attack.

Several times, the Sooners have lined up the 6-foot-6, 270-pound tight end as a wide out, which is a difficult matchup for smaller defensive backs.

In the third quarter and the score just 21-13 against Miami, Gresham floated wide open in back of the end zone, where Bradford found him, the first of four straight scoring drives that eventually put the Hurricanes away.

"I don't know if Sam is trying to distribute it or not,” Wilson said. "But we're doing a good job of getting everybody involved.”

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