By Stephen Spiewak
MaxPreps.com
A historic sophomore season that came on the heels of a remarkable freshman debut made Oklahoma University's Sam Bradford the winner of the 2008 Heisman Award, presented annually to college football’s most outstanding player.
Bradford narrowly edged two other quarterbacks, Texas’ Colt McCoy and Florida’s Tim Tebow, in one of the closest races in the 74-year history of the award.
“I was pretty nervous,” Bradford said. “I wasn’t expecting my name to be called, when it was it was just a lot of excitement!”
If Bradford didn’t expect to win after a season where he commandeered the most potent offense in NCAA history, than he certainly had no inkling back in high school that he’d ever capture a Heisman trophy.
While Bradford had a fine career at Putnam City North (Okla.), few people regarded him as highly last year’s winner, the aforementioned Tebow. The two will face off in January with a national title on the line.
Tebow was a high school phenom who played for Florida powerhouse Nease. Bradford was clearly a Division I prospect, but never reached the level of type that surrounded Tebow.
He was a three-year start for head coach Bob Wilson. His senior year he threw for 2,422 yards and 19 touchdowns, garnering second team All-State honors by The Oklahoman.
Wilson remembers Bradford for his character and maturity.
“You think maybe you had a small part somewhere (in his success),” Wilson told Murray Evans of the Associated Press. “The kid was so far along when we got him, he had such a great background with his folks and such a great family, he was pretty well grounded.”
In addition to his success on the football field, Bradford excelled at both basketball and golf. He was a gifted student and also volunteered in his free time.
But Wilson pulled no punches when it came to discussing Bradford’s football merits with major programs.
“A lot of college coaches came through. I told them, ‘If you’re asking my opinion, it’s this; he’s either going to be playing for or you’re going to be playing against him,’ ” Wilson said.
Bradford signed with Oklahoma, and burst onto the scene as a freshman in 2007 after redshirting the 2006 season. He currently has 84 touchdowns, the most for a player after his sophomore season.
Putnam City North certainly would welcome another quarterback in the mold of Bradford, who led the team to the 6A semifinals as a junior. After a 5-1 start this year, the Panthers dropped four of their last five games and missed qualifying for the state playoffs.
