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
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Bradford, Freeman both hot prospects
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