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Sam Bradford

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Template:Infobox CollegeFootballPlayer Samuel Jacob Bradford (born November 8, 1987 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) is the starting quarterback for the Oklahoma Sooners college football team. In 2008, as a redshirt sophomore, Bradford became the second sophomore to win a Heisman Trophy. Bradford also holds the NCAA record for touchdown passes by a freshman, with 36.

High school career

Bradford attended Putnam City North High School in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, where he starred in football, basketball and golf. As a senior quarterback for his high school football team in 2005-2006, he threw for 2,029 yards and 17 touchdowns in 12 games.[1] His senior year in basketball, he averaged a double-double.[2]

However, Bradford was not that highly ranked among the high school class of 2006,[3] ranked only 17th among quarterbacks by Scout.com and being overshadowed by the likes of Tim Tebow, Matthew Stafford and Mitch Mustain.[1][4]

College career

Freshman season

In 2006, Oklahoma's starting quarterback Rhett Bomar, then a sophomore, was dismissed from the team for violating NCAA rules. Paul Thompson, a senior quarterback-turned-wide receiver, converted back to quarterback and led the 2006 Oklahoma Sooners football team to win the Big 12 Championship Game. His departure left a void at the quarterback position at Oklahoma. Six players on the roster tried out for the starting position during the following off-season, including three walk-on quarterbacks,[5] true freshman Keith Nichol (a Rivals.com 4-star recruit and 6th-ranked dual-threat quarterback in the 2007 recruiting class, who later transferred to Michigan State University), junior Joey Halzle (the only one with game experience), and Bradford, a redshirt freshman. On August 21, 2007, Bradford won the starting quarterback role for the 2007 team.[6]

Bradford (left) with Joey Halzle (center) and Hays McEachern (right) during spring practice in April 2007

In his first game for the Sooners, against the University of North Texas, Bradford completed 21 of 23 attempts for 363 yards and three touchdowns in a little over two quarters, breaking the school record for passing yards in a half, held by his quarterback coach Josh Heupel, with 350.[7] The very next game, Bradford broke Heisman Trophy winner Jason White's school record for most consecutive pass completions with 22 (18 came in the first half and four at the start of the second).[8]

In the second week of the 2007 season, Bradford was named the national offensive player of the week by the Walter Camp Foundation[9] after tying the school record for most touchdown passes in a game with five.[10] Having thrown 25 TDs through his first nine games, Bradford was on pace to break the NCAA freshman record of 29 TDs set by David Neill in 1998 and tied by Colt McCoy in 2006.

In the November 17, 2007 game against Texas Tech, Bradford suffered a concussion of unknown severity. He was removed from the game and replaced by back-up quarterback Joey Halzle. The Sooners lost the game, 27–34. [11] Bradford was able to play in the Bedlam game against Oklahoma State on November 24. [12] [13]

During the November 24, 2007 game against the Oklahoma State Cowboys, Bradford broke the NCAA freshman record of 29 TDs by passing his 30th TD to Joe Jon Finley during the second quarter.[14] At the Missouri Tigers game, Bradford threw for 209 yards and 0 interceptions. He was 18-26 and threw for 2 touchdowns.

The Sooners won the Big 12 Championship after defeating Missouri for the second time in a season. The Sooners played the West Virginia Mountaineers in the Fiesta Bowl on January 2, 2008 and lost 48–28. It was Bradford's first BCS bowl game as a starter.

Sophomore season

See also: 2008 Oklahoma Sooners football team

In week 8 of the following season against Kansas, Bradford surpassed quarterback coach Josh Heupel's school record for passing yards in a single game with 468 yards. Bradford led the Sooners to their third straight Big 12 Championship and defeated Missouri 62-21. In the process, the Sooners broke Hawaii's 2006 record for the most points in a single season with 702 points. Oklahoma finished the 2008 regular season with a 12–1 record, ranking #2 in the AP Poll and #1 in the BCS Standings. The Sooners earned a trip to play Florida at the 2009 BCS National Championship Game.

After the regular season, Bradford captured the Davey O'Brien Award[15] and the Heisman Trophy.[16][17] He is the second sophomore, after 2007 winner Tim Tebow of the University of Florida, to receive the Heisman; he also became the fifth University of Oklahoma player, as well as the first person of Native American descent since Jim Plunkett in 1970, to capture the trophy.[18] Bradford received 1,726 total points while the other finalists, Colt McCoy, of the University of Texas, and Tim Tebow, received 1,604 and 1,575, respectively. Tebow, however, collected more first-place votes, 309, while Bradford got 300. Bradford got the most points thanks to the help of his 315 second-place votes. A total of 926 voters participated in the balloting.[19]

2008 Heisman Trophy Finalist Voting
Finalist First place votes
(3 pts. each) 		Second place votes
(2 pts. each) 		Third place votes
(1 pt. each) 		Total points
Sam Bradford 300 315 196 1,726
Colt McCoy 266 288 230 1,604
Tim Tebow 309 207 234 1,575
Source:[20]

Bradford was also voted the Associated Press College Football Player of the Year. Bradford received 27 votes, again beating McCoy (17 votes) and Tim Tebow (16 votes).[21] Bradford is the third Oklahoma Sooner to win the award, joining Josh Heupel (2000) and Jason White (2003). Heupel and White were also quarterbacks, with Heupel being the current quarterbacks coach for Oklahoma.

It has also been reported that Bradford was found masturbating to his Heisman Trophy by an anonymous teammate.

Bradford faced Florida, led by Tebow, in the 2009 BCS National Championship Game.[22] He threw 26-of-41 passes for 256 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. Florida ended up beating Oklahoma 24–14.[23]

Bradford has announced that he will forgo the 2009 NFL Draft to return to Oklahoma for his junior season.[24]

Awards and honors

Statistics

  Passing Rushing
Season Team GP Rating Att Comp Pct Yds TD Int Att Yds TD
2007 Oklahoma Sooners 14 176.52 341 237 69.5 3,121 36 8 31 7 0
2008 Oklahoma Sooners 14 180.86 483 328 67.9 4,721 50 8 42 47 5

Source:[41]

Personal

Bradford is an official citizen of the Cherokee Nation, and is also listed on the tribe's rolls.[42][43] He is one-sixteenth[44][45][46] Cherokee through his paternal great-great-grandmother,[43][44] Susie Walkingstick, who was a full-blooded Cherokee.[47][48] Bradford 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.[47] 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.[48]

His father, Kent Bradford, was an offensive lineman for the Sooners from 1977-78.

Bradford has also been an ice hockey fan. According to a January 6, 2009 report, his favorite team is the Vancouver Canucks.[49]

Bradford is very religious. He is a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at OU, as he has been since high school. He also reads the story of David and Goliath before every game, and was featured on the cover of STV (a Christian athletic magazine). [50]

References

  1. ^ a b "14 Sam Bradford". SoonerSports.com. Retrieved 2007-09-11.
  2. ^ Ivan, Maisel (2007-11-30). "Oklahoma's rookie QB makes college game looks easy". ESPN. Retrieved 2007-11-30. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  3. ^ Thamel, Pete (2008-12-13). "Bradford Wins Heisman, but the Top Prize Awaits". New York Times. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  4. ^ "Football Recruiting - Quarterback". Scout.com. Retrieved 2007-09-11.
  5. ^ "2007 Oklahoma Sooners Roster".
  6. ^ "Bradford Gets Nod at Quarterback". SoonerSports.com. Retrieved 2007-08-21.
  7. ^ Carlson, Jenni (2007-09-02). "Sooner newbies Bradford, Murray debut with monster games". NewsOK.com. Retrieved 2007-09-04. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  8. ^ Trotter, Jake (2007-09-09). "Sooners' Bradford proves that he belongs". NewsOK.com. Retrieved 2007-09-10. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  9. ^ "Bradford Captures Camp Honor". SoonerSports.com. 2007-09-09. Retrieved 2007-09-10. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  10. ^ "Oklahoma Rocks Miami, 51-13". SoonerSports.com. Retrieved 2007-09-10.
  11. ^ "The Sports Network I-A College Football". The Sports Network. Retrieved 2007-11-18.
  12. ^ "ESPN - Sooners QB Bradford to be reevaluated this week - College Football". ESPN. Retrieved 2007-11-21.
  13. ^ Bradford's early exit in '07 means Tech still has to size up Sam
  14. ^ "Patrick runs for career-best 202 yards, 2 TDs as OU rolls". ESPN. 2007-11-24. Retrieved 2007-11-24. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  15. ^ a b "Bradford is winner of O'Brien QB award".
  16. ^ SAM BRADFORD OF THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA SELECTED AS THE 2008 HEISMAN WINNER
  17. ^ "Heisman U? Sam Bradford is latest in impressive run of OU signal-callers".
  18. ^ "Bradford wins 2008 Heisman Trophy".
  19. ^ "OU's Sam Bradford wins 74th Heisman Trophy".
  20. ^ "Oklahoma QB Bradford wins Heisman Trophy".
  21. ^ SAM BRADFORD OF THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA SELECTED AS THE 2008 AP College Football Player of the Year
  22. ^ "Sam Bradford and Tim Tebow are Heismans apart".
  23. ^ "Florida Gators vs. Oklahoma Sooners Box Score, January 8 2009".
  24. ^ "Sam Bradford Will Return to Oklahoma". SI.com. 2009-01-14.
  25. ^ a b "SN's 2007 college football All-Americans".
  26. ^ "Nolan Nawrocki's All-America team".
  27. ^ "2007 CFN All-America Teams".
  28. ^ "SI.com's 2007 All-Americas".
  29. ^ "2007 All-Big 12 Football Awards Announced".
  30. ^ "2007 AcaAdemic All-Big 12 FootbaBAllTteaAm Announced" (PDF).
  31. ^ "2008 ESPN THE MAGAZINE Academic All-America" (PDF).
  32. ^ "2008 Academic All-Big 12 Football Team Announced" (PDF).
  33. ^ "2008 All-Big 12 Football Awards Announced".
  34. ^ "CBSSports.com 2008 All-America Team".
  35. ^ "Rivals.com 2008 All-America Teams".
  36. ^ "2008 ESPN All-Americans".
  37. ^ "Associated Press names 2008 All-America Team".
  38. ^ "Sporting News' college football All-American First Team".
  39. ^ "Heisman Finalists".
  40. ^ "AP College Football Player of the Year Winner".
  41. ^ "Sam Bradford #14 QB".
  42. ^ "BCS National Championship: OU quarterback Sam Bradford inspiration to American Indians".
  43. ^ a b "Native son: Okla. QB Bradford brings pride to Cherokees".
  44. ^ a b "Indians embrace new star".
  45. ^ "Sooners' quarterback Sam Bradford Wins The Heisman".
  46. ^ "Wrong call: It should have been Tim Tebow".
  47. ^ a b "Sam Bradford 'a role model' among Native Americans".
  48. ^ a b "Sooners' Bradford Is Accidental Cherokee Hero". New York Times. Retrieved 2008-10-11.
  49. ^ "U.S. college football star shows love for Canucks".
  50. ^ "Bradford solves Sooners' problems with ease".
Preceded by Oklahoma Sooners Starting Quarterbacks
2007- 		Succeeded by
Incumbent
Preceded by Heisman Trophy Winner
2008 		Succeeded by
Incumbent
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