NORMAN — This is an historic week for Oklahoma football.
The program that’s won seven national championships, claimed four Heisman Trophies and had 37 players taken in the first round of previous NFL drafts is about to reach a new level.
The Sooners are expected to have four players taken in the first round of this year’s draft Thursday at Radio City Music Hall in New York.
OU quarterback Sam Bradford, defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, tight end Jermaine Gresham and offensive tackle Trent Williams are all projected as first-round picks. It’s just a matter of when and where.
“It’s going to be a big night for Oklahoma,” NFL.com draft analyst Gil Brandt said.
Having multiple first-round picks in one season is nothing new to the Sooners. It’s happened nine times since 1950 and twice (1970 and 1976) they had three players go in the first round of the draft.
It won’t be an NFL record. Four times since 1968 a college team has had five first-round picks.
Nonetheless, it will be a big moment for OU football.
“It shows how hard guys work here,” McCoy said.
Bradford is widely believed to be St. Louis’ choice as the No. 1 overall pick. If the Rams trade the selection, the belief is it will still result in Bradford going first.
But McCoy is also in the debate. Scouts Inc., which analyzes players for ESPN, has McCoy listed as the best player available. NFL.com agrees.
“I take it all in stride. I don’t really pay it any attention,” McCoy said. “I just make sure I’m at my best when the time comes.
The consensus on Williams is he’s one of the three best left tackle prospects in the draft. He and Oklahoma State’s Russell Okung and Iowa’s Brian Bulaga all have drawn raves since players began working out for NFL scouts.
“Here’s a guy who has played well at both tackle positions, and has even seen spot duty at center,” ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. said. “A safe pick, because Williams can upgrade your offensive line in more than one place.”
The only place where there’s no debate in the draft is that Gresham is considered the best tight end available. Despite not playing last season due to a knee injury, the 6-foot-6, 260-pound Gresham has still made a favorable impression.
“Gresham is a very athletically gifted tight end. He runs extremely well and can get down the field like a wide receiver does and made a lot of huge catches for Sam Bradford …You can utilize him in a lot of different ways,” Kiper said. “You can line him up and get mismatches in coverage because he’s so athletic. He’s basically a big wide receiver.”
Gresham figures to be the final pick of the foursome. Most analysts believe he’ll go somewhere around the 20th overall pick. When it happens, it will cap a very big day for OU football, and the last time those four Sooners will be in a setting where they won’t be competing against each other.
“We’re teammates,” McCoy said. “I wish the best for all my teammates. I want all my teammates to do great. I want everybody to have a chance to play at the next level and go as high as possible.”
