MANHATTAN, Kan. — The Big 12 Conference is defined by its quarterbacks. Just about every team has one worthy of being an all-league player. Nearly half boast a signal-caller putting up All-American numbers.
It makes for great rivalries, but the one that could flourish the longest is the one that will debut when No. 4 Oklahoma (6-1, 2-1 Big 12) faces Kansas State (4-3, 1-2) at 11:30 a.m. today at Snyder Family Stadium.
OU’s Sam Bradford and Kansas State’s Josh Freeman have the most potential among league quarterbacks to take their college duels into the NFL. Take a look at just about any NFL mock draft out there that includes potential underclassmen who might declare early and both play prominent roles.
ESPN.com lists Bradford as the potential No. 1 overall pick. Freeman is thought of as a potential first-rounder as well.
Bradford was dismissive of the notion he’s headed to the NFL.
“That's a long way down the road. That’s something I haven’t even thought of, and there’s really no need to even think about that right now,” he said. “So why other people would worry about that makes no sense to me.”
You won’t get OU coach Bob Stoops nor Kansas State coach Ron Prince to say much about the quarterbacks’ options beyond this season. But they have no problem gushing about the one on the other sideline.
“He has a terrific arm and precision in how he throws the football. They’re looking to throw the football more than they’re looking to run him,” Stoops said of Freeman. “They run him in some situations and he is a big guy that has good speed. But I see that they’re more interested in throwing it than anything. And like anyone, he can pull it down and scramble and do a good job when he does.”
Prince is impressed with Bradford.
“His five interceptions are just him being aggressive — they are not missed reads,” Prince said of Bradford. “You don’t see a lot of that and that’s one of the things that surprises you most when you watch the tape: the number of completions that he gets that are seemingly uncontested because they have a very good scheme. He understand how to read the coverage and put the ball in places that only his guys can catch it.”
The reason why both quarterbacks are looked upon as future pros is both appear to bring the total package to the NFL table. Height, weight, arm strength, intangibles, they’re all there.
Bradford is the prototype of an NFL quarterback. He’s 6-foot-4, 220 pounds with a strong accurate arm. But his ability to read defenses, proven by his 62-to-13 touchdown-to-interception ratio over the last two seasons, places him a rung above many other prospects at the position.
For Freeman, it’s size (6-6, 250) and speed. Not only has he put up big passing numbers — 1,746 yards and 12 touchdowns, but he’s also the Wildcats’ leading rusher with 13 touchdowns and a 4.9 yard-per-carry average.
Both play the role of offensive catalyst. As they go, so go their team. It’s been the case in just about every game this season.
“That’s one of the great things about playing in the Big 12,” Bradford said. “Every week, you’re going against a great team with a great quarterback. There are no off-weeks. You have to be ready to play.”
That doesn’t change, yet most rivalries between conference quarterbacks of what’s become a golden age for the Big 12 will end over the next year. Yet Bradford and Freeman might continue to meet for years and years, on Sundays.
John Shinn
366-3536
jshinn@normantranscript.com
OU Sports
Related Photos
-
KEVIN ELLIS
Discussion
Bradford, Freeman both hot prospects
- OU Sports
-
-
Sooners did not show up to play
Texas had something to play for. So there’s that. If the Longhorns are to receive an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament, this was just the kind of game they absolutely had to win....
-
With W.V. set free by Big East, Big 12 schedule’s out and it’s backloaded for Sooners
With West Virginia finally receiving its release from the Big East Conference on Tuesday, the Big 12 Conference was finally able to release its conference football schedule for the 2012 season....
-
Red River rut
The rut Oklahoma has been trying to escape for the last two weeks continued to grow deeper with a 69-58 loss to Texas Tuesday night at Lloyd Noble Center....
-
OU gearing up for Texas’ Brown
If Oklahoma guard Steven Pledger had his way, tonight’s meeting with Texas will come down to two players: himself and Longhorn guard J’Covan Brown....
-
Sooners will have a dramatically new look up and down the order, on the mound
The clubhouse at L. Dale Mitchell Park hasn’t changed over the last year. Just about everything else has since the 2011 baseball season ended. The locker stalls have 20 new nameplates. The coaches’ locker room has two new ones as well. ...
-
Despite hard fight, UConn wins big
By its own standards, the Connecticut team that took the floor Monday night at Lloyd Noble Center was not in the same class as its previous incarnations. But a down year for the seven-time national champions is still better than just ...
-
Believe it or not, OU women are progressing
Connecticut coach Geno Auriemma appeared plenty willing to embarrass Oklahoma for a third time in seven games....
-
OU reeling from stunning loss to Texas Tech
As Oklahoma’s players headed toward the exit at United Spirit Arena on Saturday night, most had dazed looks on their faces. The 65-47 loss to Texas Tech was something they didn’t see coming....
-
Husky challenge
No time might seem like a good time to face Connecticut. The Huskies are always terrific and this season will enter Lloyd Noble Center likely ranked No. 2 following Notre Dame’s Sunday loss to West Virginia....
-
Sooners put finishing touches on perfect opener
Oklahoma capped off a perfect opening weekend of softball on Sunday with an 11-1 victory over Kent State. The Sooners were led by another strong outing from pitcher Keilani Rickets and an offensive explosion by Allee Allen....
- More OU Sports Headlines
-
Sooners did not show up to play
