When the question was posed to Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops earlier this season, he didn’t duck it, but said it was too early to say.

But as the Sooners were preparing to face Missouri for the Big 12 championship, Stoops decided the time was right to give his opinion on where Sam Bradford ranks among the quarterbacks he’s coached.

First.

There really isn’t any question after what Bradford’s done during his sophomore season.

In just 27 games as OU’s starting quarterback, just about every career passing record belongs to him. His 84 touchdown passes and 7,585 yards are both unmatched.

But his sophomore season has become legendary in its own time. Running the most explosive offensive in college football to unforeseen heights, he has thrown 48 touchdown passes and led OU to its third straight Big 12 championship and into the national championship for the first time since 2004.

“Everything goes through Sam,” wide receiver Juaquin Iglesias said. “The way he’s handled this offense, and the way we changed it to no huddle, he’s doing a great job. You can’t ask for more than what he’s done for this team. And you can’t ask for him to be more of a better leader than he is. He’s just been doing a great job for us. I think he’s one of the best out there.”

Bradford prefers to duck the compliments like unblocked blitzers. Even Stoops’ pronouncement caught him off guard.

“That’s a huge compliment to hear that. It means a lot, but there are still a lot of things that we need to accomplish this season,” he said. “Obviously, coach (Josh) Heupel was able to win a national championship. Jason White was able to play in a couple of national championships. I feel like I have yet to do that, so there are a lot of things that I need to do before I can be considered with those guys.”

At OU, every player, and especially quarterbacks, are judged by what they win. Those six Big 12 championships have been won by five different quarterbacks. But the dynamic duo was always thought to be Heupel and White because of the magical seasons they enjoyed.

Heupel didn’t win the Heisman Trophy, but he won everything else in 2000, including the Sooners’ seventh national championship. White won everything but a national championship in 2003 and 2004.

Bradford’s case has been different.

Heupel was a junior college transfer who led the Sooners back to prominence his junior and senior seasons. White first started a game in 2001, but had his biggest seasons as a fifth- and sixth-year senior.

Bradford, a redshirt sophomore, is still a pup by comparison.

That’s what amazes his coach.

“I love what Jason White did here, it was incredible with his circumstances. And Josh Heupel did an amazing job in his short period of time. But what Sam has done for two straight years, I don’t know how to explain it,” Stoops said. “It’s uncanny just how accurate he is. How consistent he is. Have you ever seen a bad ball? It’s just amazing.

“But, he has that kind of ability. He’s got a bit more size. He’s got great pocket presence. He’s a much better athlete than people seem to think. He’s got that touch and precision to put the

ball in different places and different ways.”

Stoops isn’t alone thinking that way about Bradford.

Want to know why he should be called the best quarterback in Sooner history?

OU’ had had 334 players drafted by the NFL since 1936. None have started an NFL game at quarterback. That will almost certainly change when Bradford decides the time is right.

He recently admitted to reporters that he’s initiated the process to be evaluated for the NFL draft. There’s little doubt he’ll be told he would be a first-round pick. Even Stoops said Bradford is ready to make the leap, but hopes he doesn’t.

“Sam knows that there’s more out there that he wants to accomplish,” Stoops said. “Academically, he’s a fabulous student, there’s a lot there as well. He’ll be prepared to make a decision when the time comes. There’s a lot that goes with that position that sometimes gets overlooked.”

That’s a scary thought. He’s a finalist for the Heisman Trophy and has already won the O’Brien Award, given to the nation’s best quarterback. If he can come back and top this season next season, the historical implications could go well beyond OU.

Another season like this one would make him one of the best quarterbacks to every play college football. None of it has ever gone to his head.

“One thing people don’t notice is Sam is one of the most humble people we have in our locker room,” linebacker Travis Lewis said. “Just by being the person he is, he makes everybody a better person on this team.”

Tonight in New York, they could be saying the same things about the 2008 Heisman Trophy winner. The votes are in and either Bradford, Texas’ Colt McCoy or Florida’s Tim Tebow will take home the prize.

If it’s Bradford, he’ll join Billy Vessels, Steve Owens, Billy Sims and White in OU’s exclusive Heisman club. If he doesn’t, he can take solace in this: OU’s never had a better quarterback. Everyone agrees, Bradford is in a class by himself.

John Shinn

366-3536

jshinn@normantranscript.com