In 2006, Oklahoma's starting quarterback Rhett Bomar, then a
sophomore, was kicked off the team for violating NCAA rules. Paul
Thompson, a senior  quarterback-turned-wide receiver, converted back to
quarterback and led the 2006 Oklahoma Sooners football team to the Big
12 Championship. His departure left a void at the quarterback position
at Oklahoma. That void would be filled by either true freshman Keith
Nichol, redshirt freshman Sam Bradford, or junior Joey Halzle (the only
one with game experience). On 2007-08-21, Bradford was named the
starting quarterback for the 2007 Oklahoma Sooners football team. In
his first game for the Oklahoma Sooners on 2007-09-01 against the
University of North Texas, Bradford completed 21 of 23 attempts for 363
yards and three touchdowns in just little over 2 quarters, breaking the
school record for passing yards in a half with 350. The very next game,
Bradford broke Heisman Trophy winner Jason White's school record for
most consecutive pass completions with 22 (18 came in the first half
and four at the start of the second). In the second week of the 2007
season, Bradford was named the national offensive player of the week by
the Walter Camp Foundation after tying the school record for most
touchdown passes in a game with five. Having thrown 25 TDs through his
first nine games, Bradford is on pace to break the NCAA freshman record
of 29 TDs set by David Neill in 1998 and tied by Colt McCoy in 2006. In
the November 17, 2007 game against Texas Tech, Bradford suffered a
concussion of unknown severity. He was removed from the game and
replaced by back-up quarterback Joey Halzle. The Sooners lost the game,
27–34. Bradford was able to play in the Bedlam game against
Oklahoma State on November 24. During the November 24, 2007 game
against Oklahoma State Cowboys, Bradford broke the NCAA freshman record
of 29 TDs by passing his 30th TD to Joe Jon Finley during the second
quarter. |
