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'''Samuel Jacob "Sam" Bradford''' (born November 8, 1987) is an [[American football]] [[quarterback]] for the [[St. Louis Rams]] of the [[National Football League]]. He was the first overall pick in the [[2010 NFL Draft]], and played college football at [[Oklahoma Sooners football|Oklahoma]]. In 2008, as a [[redshirt (college sports)|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.
'''Samantha Jacob "Sam" Bradford''' (born November 8, 1987) is an [[American football]] [[buttlicker]] for the [[St. Louis Yams]] of the [[National Football League]]. He was the first overall pick in the [[2010 NFL Draft]], and played college football at [[Oklahoma Sooners football|Oklahoma]]. In 2008, as a [[redshirt (college sports)|redshirt]] [[sophomore]], Bradford became the second sophomore to win a [[Gay-boy Trophy]]. Bradford also holds the NCAA record for butt-slaps by a freshman, with 36.


==Early years==
==Early years==

Revision as of 16:42, 27 April 2010

Sam Bradford
refer to caption
Bradford in September 2008
St. Louis Rams
Career information
College:Oklahoma
NFL draft:2010 / Round: 1 / Pick: 1
Career history
Roster status:Unsigned draft pick
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of 2010
TDINT:0–0
Passing yards:0
QB Rating:0

Samantha Jacob "Sam" Bradford (born November 8, 1987) is an American football buttlicker for the St. Louis Yams of the National Football League. He was the first overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, and played college football at Oklahoma. In 2008, as a redshirt sophomore, Bradford became the second sophomore to win a Gay-boy Trophy. Bradford also holds the NCAA record for butt-slaps by a freshman, with 36.

Early years

Bradford was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.[1] He attended Putnam City North High School in Oklahoma City, 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.[2] His senior year in basketball, he averaged a double-double.[3] However, Bradford was a three-star recruit not that highly ranked among the high school class of 2006,[4] with his highest ranking being No. 12 amongst only Pro-Style quarterbacks by recruiting source Rivals.com, behind Pat Devlin, Juice Williams, Josh Freeman, and being overshadowed by the likes of five-star recruits Mitch Mustain, Matthew Stafford and Tim Tebow.[2][5]

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,[6] 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.[7]

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.[8] 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).[9]

In the second week of the 2007 season, Bradford was named the national offensive player of the week by the Walter Camp Foundation[10] after tying the school record for most touchdown passes in a game with five.[11] Having thrown 25 touchdowns through his first nine games, Bradford was on pace to break the NCAA freshman record of 29 touchdowns 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. [12] Bradford was able to play in the Bedlam game against Oklahoma State on November 24. [13][14]

During the November 24, 2007 game against the Oklahoma State Cowboys, Bradford broke the NCAA freshman record of 29 touchdowns by passing his 30th touchdown to Joe Jon Finley during the second quarter.[15] At the Missouri Tigers game, Bradford threw for 209 yards and 0 interceptions. He was 18–26 and threw for two 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

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. Also, the Sooners were the first team in NCAA history who had scored 60 or more points in five straight games. 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[16] and the Heisman Trophy.[17][18] 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.[19] 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.[20]

2008 Heisman Trophy Finalist Voting[21]
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

When combined with Blake Griffin's Naismith Award, Oklahoma became the first school to have a winner in both top basketball and football individual awards in the same year. 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).[22] 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.

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

Junior season

Bradford announced that he would forgo the 2009 NFL Draft to return to Oklahoma for his junior season.[25] In the Sooners' first game of the season (against Brigham Young), Bradford suffered a 3rd degree AC joint sprain one play after becoming Oklahoma's all-time passing leader. Playing without Bradford for the second half of the game, Oklahoma went on to lose 13–14. Bradford was originally scheduled to return in about three to six weeks,[26] but head coach Bob Stoops initially refused to either confirm or deny that timetable.[27] After missing three weeks, Bradford returned to the field during the Baylor game, and completed 27-of-49 passes for 389 yards and one touchdown, leading the Sooners to a 33–7 victory.[28] Bradford re-injured his right shoulder on October 17, 2009 in the Red River Rivalry against Texas on the second drive of the game. It was later announced that he would undergo season-ending shoulder surgery and expects to enter the 2010 NFL Draft in April. [29] Bradford was drafted #1 Overall by the St. Louis Rams at the 2010 NFL Draft.

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
2009 Oklahoma Sooners 2 133.9 63 37 58.7 485 2 0 3 −5 0

Source:[49]

Professional career

2010 NFL Draft

Although he likely would have been one of the first quarterbacks taken in the 2009 NFL Draft, Bradford decided to return to Oklahoma for his junior season in January 2009.[50] But on October 25, 2009, Bradford announced he would forego his final year at Oklahoma and enter the 2010 NFL Draft.[51] Commonly considered one of the top prospects available, Bradford was projected as high as the No. 1 overall pick for most of the preseason and the early part of the regular season.[52][53][54]

Due to his shoulder injury, Bradford did not throw at the 2010 NFL Combine, however he was measured and participated in interviews and medical examinations. He was measured at 6–4¼ and 236 pounds, about 15 pounds above his college playing weight. Former scout Daniel Jeremiah wrote that Bradford carried the weight well, as in "muscled not puffy."[55] Bradford scored 36 out of 50 on the Wonderlic test, well above the average of 28.5 for the 30 NFL quarterbacks slated to start in 2010.[56]

On March 19, Bradford met with St. Louis Rams general manager Billy Devaney and offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur in Pensacola, Florida, where he has been training and rehabbing since undergoing surgery on his throwing shoulder.[57]

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span Wonderlic
6 ft 4+14 in
(1.94 m)
236 lb
(107 kg)
34+38 in
(0.87 m)
9+12 in
(0.24 m)
36
All values from NFL Combine[58]

St. Louis Rams

On April 22, 2010, Bradford was selected by the St. Louis Rams as the first overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft.[59] It was the first time the Rams selected a quarterback in the first round of a draft since the selection of Bill Munson in the 1964 NFL Draft. Bradford is the first No. 1 pick out of Oklahoma since Billy Sims was selected top overall by the Detroit Lions in the 1980 NFL Draft.

Personal

Bradford is an official citizen of the Cherokee Nation, and is also listed on the tribe's rolls.[60][61] He is one-sixteenth[62][63][64] Cherokee through his paternal great-great-grandmother,[61][62] Susie Walkingstick, who was a full-blooded Cherokee.[65][66] 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.[65] 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.[66] Bradford also holds the distinction of being the first Native American to win the Heisman Trophy. [67]

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

Bradford is also an avid ice hockey fan. At one point Bradford compared his love for hockey to his love for football. According to a January 6, 2009 report, his favorite team is the Vancouver Canucks.[68]

Bradford 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).[69]

In 2009, Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett declared January 13 as "Sam Bradford Day" in Oklahoma City.[70]

As well, Bradford appeared in a short film of testimonials from celebrity videos called, I AM SECOND; sharing his faith about Jesus Christ and winning the Heisman Trophy.[71]

References

  1. ^ http://www.soonersports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/football-depth-chart.html
  2. ^ a b "14 Sam Bradford". SoonerSports.com. Retrieved 2007-09-11.
  3. ^ Maisel, Ivan (2007-11-30). "Oklahoma's rookie QB makes college game looks easy". ESPN. Retrieved 2007-11-30.
  4. ^ 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)
  5. ^ "Football Recruiting – Quarterback". Scout.com. Retrieved 2007-09-11.
  6. ^ "2007 Oklahoma Sooners Roster".
  7. ^ "Bradford Gets Nod at Quarterback". SoonerSports.com. Retrieved 2007-08-21.
  8. ^ Carlson, Jenni (2007-09-02). "Sooner newbies Bradford, Murray debut with monster games". NewsOK.com. Retrieved 2007-09-04.
  9. ^ Trotter, Jake (2007-09-09). "Sooners' Bradford proves that he belongs". NewsOK.com. Retrieved 2007-09-10.
  10. ^ "Bradford Captures Camp Honor". SoonerSports.com. 2007-09-09. Retrieved 2007-09-10.
  11. ^ "Oklahoma Rocks Miami, 51–13". SoonerSports.com. Retrieved 2007-09-10.
  12. ^ "The Sports Network I-A College Football". The Sports Network. Retrieved 2007-11-18.
  13. ^ "ESPN – Sooners QB Bradford to be reevaluated this week – College Football". ESPN. Retrieved 2007-11-21.
  14. ^ Bradford's early exit in '07 means Tech still has to size up Sam
  15. ^ "Patrick runs for career-best 202 yards, 2 TDs as OU rolls". ESPN. 2007-11-24. Retrieved 2007-11-24.
  16. ^ a b "Bradford is winner of O'Brien QB award".
  17. ^ SAM BRADFORD OF THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA SELECTED AS THE 2008 HEISMAN WINNER
  18. ^ "Heisman U? Sam Bradford is latest in impressive run of OU signal-callers".
  19. ^ "Bradford wins 2008 Heisman Trophy".
  20. ^ "OU's Sam Bradford wins 74th Heisman Trophy".
  21. ^ "Oklahoma QB Bradford wins Heisman Trophy".
  22. ^ SAM BRADFORD OF THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA SELECTED AS THE 2008 AP College Football Player of the Year
  23. ^ "Sam Bradford and Tim Tebow are Heismans apart".
  24. ^ "Florida Gators vs. Oklahoma Sooners Box Score, January 8 2009".
  25. ^ "Sam Bradford Will Return to Oklahoma". SI.com. 2009-01-14.
  26. ^ Associated Press (2009-09-05). "Hall's TD pass with 3:03 remaining lifts Cougars over No. 3 Sooners". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2009-09-05.
  27. ^ [1]
  28. ^ "Big 12: Even with Bradford, Sooners beatable".
  29. ^ http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/news?slug=ap-t25-oklahoma-bradford&prov=ap&type=lgns. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  30. ^ a b "SN's 2007 college football All-Americans".
  31. ^ "Nolan Nawrocki's All-America team".
  32. ^ "2007 CFN All-America Teams".
  33. ^ "SI.com's 2007 All-Americas".
  34. ^ "2007 All-Big 12 Football Awards Announced".
  35. ^ "2007 AcaAdemic All-Big 12 FootbaBAllTteaAm Announced" (PDF).
  36. ^ "2008 ESPN THE MAGAZINE Academic All-America" (PDF).
  37. ^ "2008 Academic All-Big 12 Football Team Announced" (PDF).
  38. ^ "2008 All-Big 12 Football Awards Announced".
  39. ^ "CBSSports.com 2008 All-America Team".
  40. ^ "Rivals.com 2008 All-America Teams".
  41. ^ "2008 ESPN All-Americans".
  42. ^ "Associated Press names 2008 All-America Team".
  43. ^ "Sporting News' college football All-American First Team".
  44. ^ "Heisman Finalists".
  45. ^ "AP College Football Player of the Year Winner".
  46. ^ "Texas Tech QB Harrell named co-national player of the year".
  47. ^ "Touchdown Club News, Awards". March 27, 2009.
  48. ^ "NCAA Quarterback of the Year". Touchdown Club of Columbus. April 6, 2009.
  49. ^ "Sam Bradford #14 QB".
  50. ^ "Sam Bradford announces he'll return to Sooners", The Sporting News, January 14, 2009
  51. ^ Evans, Thayer (October 26, 2009), "Oklahoma's Bradford Chooses Season-Ending Surgery and Will Try for Draft", New York Times
  52. ^ McShay, Todd (April 30, 2009). "QBs Sam Bradford and Colt McCoy are high in Todd McShay's early 2010 mock draft". ESPN.com.
  53. ^ Perloff, Andrew (April 28, 2009). "Sam Bradford goes No.1 to St. Louis Rams in 2010 NFL Mock Draft". Sports Illustrated.
  54. ^ Rang, Rob (October 23, 2009), "2009 NFL Mock Draft", CBSSports.com
  55. ^ Jeremiah, Daniel (February 26, 2009). "Oklahoma QB Sam Bradford measured at 6'4 1/4, 236 pounds at Friday's weigh-in". Rotoworld.com. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/player_main.aspx?sport= ignored (help)
  56. ^ Thompson, Edgar (March 10, 2010), "Wonderlic scores of 2010 NFL starting quarterbacks and NFL draft QB prospects", Palm Beach Post.
  57. ^ Thomas, Jim (March 19, 2010), "Rams meet with Sam Bradford", St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
  58. ^ "Sam Bradford Combine Profile", NFL.com, retrieved February 27, 2010.
  59. ^ "It's finally official: Rams take Bradford". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. April 22, 2010.
  60. ^ "BCS National Championship: OU quarterback Sam Bradford inspiration to American Indians".
  61. ^ a b "Native son: Okla. QB Bradford brings pride to Cherokees".
  62. ^ a b "Indians embrace new star".
  63. ^ "Sooners' quarterback Sam Bradford Wins The Heisman".
  64. ^ "Wrong call: It should have been Tim Tebow".
  65. ^ a b "Sam Bradford 'a role model' among Native Americans".
  66. ^ a b "Sooners' Bradford Is Accidental Cherokee Hero". New York Times. Retrieved 2008-10-11.
  67. ^ "Cherokee Sam Bradford set to be the first native American Heisman winner".
  68. ^ "U.S. college football star shows love for Canucks".
  69. ^ "Bradford solves Sooners' problems with ease".
  70. ^ http://newsok.com/sam-bradford-day/article/3337482
  71. ^ http://iamsecond.com/#/seconds/Sam_Bradford
Sporting positions
Preceded by Oklahoma Sooners Starting Quarterbacks
2007–2009
Succeeded by
Awards and achievements
Preceded by Heisman Trophy Winner
2008
Succeeded by
Preceded by 1st Overall Pick in NFL Draft
2010
Succeeded by
Incumbent

Template:Chic Harley Award

Template:Sammy Baugh Trophy Template:College Football Quarterback of the Year