Sam Bradford

QB · Oklahoma
After capturing the Heisman Trophy, Sammy Baugh Trophy, Chic Harley Award and the Davey O'Brien Award after the 2008 season, many expected Bradford to ply his wares in the National Football League in 2009. With an overflowing mantelpiece, the Sooners' quarterback opted to stay at OU hoping to bring home the school's eighth national championship, and first since the 2000 campaign. Even before the season began, All-American tight end Jermaine Gresham suffered a right knee injury that required surgery and missed the entire campaign. Preseason All-American Trent Williams shifted to left tackle from the right side, but the Sooners' offensive line struggled in the season opener vs. Brigham Young. With costly mistakes and penalties already creating concern, protecting Bradford from the Cougar's defensive onslaught was nearly impossible. "Twelve offensive penalties," OU head coach Bob Stoops lamented at his weekly media luncheon, including the flags that were declined by BYU. "It was a lack of execution, poise and discipline." That would be the least of Oklahoma's problems. Bradford suffered a right shoulder AC joint separation in that game, a 14-13 loss, when he took a direct hit from a blitzing linebacker. With their title hopes dashed, the quarterback would soon find himself on the shelf for the rest of the year, after trying to return to the field three weeks later. The original prognosis was a third-degree sprain that would take two-to-four weeks to heal. The quarterback sought out advice from several NFL quarterbacks who had suffered the same injury, and he decided to bypass surgery for a rehabilitation program. He returned to the gridiron vs. Baylor, throwing for 389 yards in a 33-7 victory. "Sam has had a great week of practice and was ready to play," Stoops said after meeting with Bradford prior to the Baylor clash. "We're obviously excited to have him back." The joy soon turned to despair after Bradford re-injured his shoulder the following week against Texas. The reigning Heisman Trophy winner was jerked down by Longhorns cornerback Aaron Williams while running backward trying to get away from the defender on Oklahoma's second drive. Williams got Bradford by the waist, but the quarterback landed on his shoulder and began writhing in pain right away. "The MRI showed no different damage than what was already there," Stoops said. To better prepare to make a decision whether to have shoulder surgery, Bradford placed a call to another quarterback who has been there, done that. "We've been trading phone calls," Alex Smith of the San Francisco 49ers stated. "He called, twice. When you've torn ligaments in your shoulder, it takes time to heal. It's different than other positions. When you take hits like that, it impairs your ability to throw the ball." Smith knows all about that. He first injured his throwing shoulder in 2007 and was limited to seven games. He hurt the shoulder in training camp the next year and spent all of 2008 on injured reserve. For that reason and more, Bradford sought the right person for counsel. With his teammates standing behind him and the media before him, Bradford held a late October press conference and discussed his future and the disappointment of a junior season that ended virtually before it began. "To make this decision and realize I've probably played my last game" at OU, Bradford said before hesitating, "It's really tough." Bradford announced that he would have season-ending surgery on his injured right (throwing) shoulder. He discussed that decision with the media on campus. The quarterback said teammates have supported him while he's tried to return from an injury, and several -- including All-America tight end Jermaine Gresham -- stood behind him at the podium. Two days later, noted surgeon Dr. James Andrews performed surgery on Bradford's shoulder, ending his collegiate career. The junior also announced that he would not return to the team for the 2010 season and became the first underclassman to declare for the 2010 NFL Draft. In just two-plus seasons as the Sooners' starting quarterback, Bradford became the first player in school history to throw for over 8,000 yards. He finished as Oklahoma's all-time leader with 8,403 aerial yards and a 67.64 pass completion percentage. His 88 touchdown passes also established a team career-record, as he finished third with 604 completions on 893 pass attempts. Bradford's 36 touchdown passes in 2007 were the most by a freshman in the history of major college football. His 86 scoring strikes (50 in 2008) combined are the most by a quarterback during his first two seasons (freshman/sophomore). In 2008, Bradford threw for 4,720 yards, joining running backs Chris Brown (1,220 yards) and DeMarco Murray (1,002) in producing the first FBS team to feature a 4,000-yard passer and two 1,000-yard rushers in the same season. Only nine other teams have ever had a 4,000-yard passer and one 1,000-yard runner during the same campaign in NCAA annals. Bradford is an official citizen of the Cherokee Nation, and is also listed on the tribe's rolls. He is one-sixteenth Cherokee through his paternal great-great-grandmother, Susie Walkingstick, who was a full-blooded Cherokee. He is the first person of Cherokee descent to start at quarterback for a Division I university since Sonny Sixkiller, a full-blooded Cherokee, who played for the University of Washington during the 1970-72 seasons. Greg Maddox, a member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, started for James Madison from 1996-98 and is the last Native American to hold the distinction before Bradford. The Sooner quarterback Bradford also holds the distinction of being the first Native American to win the Heisman Trophy. He was also an honor student in finance. At Putnam City North High School, Bradford was named to the Oklahoma Coaches Association All-State team as a senior. He was also a second-team All-State pick by The Oklahoman after throwing for 2,422 yards and 19 touchdowns that year. He was rated the 17th-best prep quarterback in the nation by both College Football News and Scout.com and the 12th-best pro-style passer by Rivals.com. That recruiting service also rated him the sixth-best overall prospect in the state of Oklahoma. The Super Prep All-American choice added All-City gridiron honors as a junior. He starred in basketball and golf. As a senior, he averaged 10.5 rebounds and 18.4 points per game for the Panthers. While most major colleges were pursuing the quarterbacks rated ahead of Bradford, including the likes of Pat Devlin, Juice Williams, Josh Freeman, Mitch Mustain, Matthew Stafford and Tim Tebow, Bradford was perfectly content with "staying home" and accepting a scholarship offer from Oklahoma. After redshirting in 2006, he took the reins in 2007, earning Freshman All-American honors. He was selected the National Freshman of the Year by The Sporting News and was a finalist for the coveted Manning Award, given to the nation's top quarterback. In addition to setting the NCAA freshman record with 36 touchdown tosses, he led the nation with a 176.53 passing efficiency rating. He would go on to complete 237-of-341 attempts (school season-record 69.5 percent) for 3,121 yards and only eight interceptions. As a sophomore, Bradford's 67.91 pass completion percentage was good for second place on the school annual record list. He set the Sooner and Big Twelve Conference record with 50 touchdown strikes, as his 328 completions of 483 attempts both rank second on the Sooners' annual record chart. His 180.84 passing efficiency rating broke the team record that he set the previous season. He also rushed for five touchdowns, finishing with 4,767 yards in total offense, the fifth-best season total in OU annals. After such a stellar start to his career, many experts thought that Bradford would leave the Sooners for the National Football League after the 2008 season. But his desire to bring a national title to the program saw him return to the team in 2009. The shoulder injury would limit him to one full game and see action in parts of two others before surgery ended that campaign. He finished with 36-of-69 passes (56.17 percent) for 562 yards and two touchdowns.

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