Who Will Turn Pro for OU?
People ask me every day who will leave for the NFL out of Soonerville, and the truth is, all the prime candidates likely are to turn pro.
That doesn’t mean the entire quartet — Sam Bradford, G.K. McCoy, Jermaine Gresham and Trent Williams — will jump. But the odds that any of the four will stay are not strong.
Just too much money, too much opportunity, to stay. As much as fans and media romanticize college football, it’s not Utopia for players. The NFL is — with a paycheck and no school and no one off the gridiron telling you what to do.
Bob Stoops like to talk economics about early entry for the draft, and on some things he’s right. On some things, not.
I don’t know if Gresham can climb too far up the draft list if he stays. Tight ends are not a precious commodity.
McCoy probably could, depending on how high he might go this year. If McCoy’s outside the top 10, he could probably make more next year, barring injury.
Williams probably could, too, but Bradford, probably not.
What does it all mean? Here’s my list of Sooners most likely to go pro, from most likely to least likely.
1. Gresham. He’s an NFL body already.
2. Bradford. You just can’t pass up a chance to go in the top five of the draft.
3. Williams. I’m not sure he wants to be alone on the OU line next year.
4. McCoy. If anyone comes back, I think it might be Gerald, just for personal reasons as much as anything.
-------------Berry Tramel can be heard Monday through Friday from 4:40-5:20 p.m. on The Sports Animal radio network, including AM-640 and FM-98.1. You can e-mail him here and follow him on Twitter @BerryTramel. Visit Berry's website here.
If you enjoyed this post, please consider to leave a comment or subscribe to the feed and get future articles delivered to your feed reader.
Comments
I understand the reasons for turning pro for Bradford, but does he really want to go where all great OU and OSU players go to die, in Detroit? If he goes to Detroit, he may a good career, but he’ll never get a ring with the Lions.
At least if he goes pro, he might make a little bit more than he makes here at OK….and he still won’t get a ring. St. Tebow and his Angels have already been selected as the next team of the universe.
either he’ll go to a crappy Lions team this year or a crappy team next year, that’s the point of having an order to the draft. Bradford should come out. He’s losing almost the entire o-line and receivers. His numbers next year won’t be anywhere like they were this year. Like Barry Sanders in his time, Bradford’s stock is as high as it will go.
i would have never figured bradford to cut out after two years . yes i know look at the money he might miss out on but when your talking in the millions does it really matter if i make 10 mill compared to 20 mill well i dont really know. but i know as a fan i loose just a little bite of respect for a guy when thats all he is worried about. i think when those young men and sign a letter to play and take a schloarship and dont stay the 4 years they schould have to pay what is left. oh whell just a fan that was real excited about what players we had to build on the next few years they light up the board and then before you can look forward to the next years and they are running for the money . oh thats right its not the fans the university or commitment its the money.
And how does Berry Tramel know all of this? I can’t think of anybody so cockie as you are. Instead of being a acting like a ‘know-it-all’ schmuck, why not pose your articles like other reporters around the country and state your speculation or assumption. Instead, you write your articles like you are these kid’s parents or all knowing God. Get a grip back to reality please!
Just because you go doesnt mean anything good is going to come of it… Alex Smith where is he now? Yes he was a sr. but what about Leinert and Young? You could argue that going at his peak was best for Vince, but he is lost most of his good sense appearantly. Leinert waited & went to a team he should have started for. But both ended up getting beat out by 40 year olds.
Well first of all aSam isnt rady for the NFL, no matter what we all think…. He is just to skinny , his body would not be able to take the pounding. Wait lets see I have 20 ,illion dollars but my legs are disfigured. IF you look at the NFl QB’s these guys are huge. It wil do all of them ggod to come bakc for one more year. Heck Gresham need to work on catching the ball,,, He leaves college for the money and gets cut the likelyhood of him coming back and getting a degree is slim. stay in sschool young men this is the best days of your life. I know I happen to have played D-1 best days of my life. The money will always be there.
Bradford will be foolish not to enter this year’s NFL draft. First, he is at the peak of his career. He will not have the same offensive line as this year to block for him so he may not make as good a stats next season. He is losing his main corp of receivers. If he stayed he would have to start almost from scratch with the exception of Broyles to catch his passes. So there is too much at risk, not to mention of injuries next season for him to pass up a big paycheck. I understand Detroit will not give him a Super Bowl ring but he can worry about that after he signs his huge contract.
I am a diehard Sooner fan. But for Sam’s sake he should go if the opportunity is there for him. He can always come back at a later date and finish his degree.
No…no…no…no…..players should stay and get their diplomas…..and help OU win Big 12 & NCs. Without fan support, OU football would be nothing. Players should be loyal and not just ‘greedy businessmen’. That’s what’s wrong with this country.
If I were Sam I would go! Why should your loyalty be any more than your coaches? Coaches come and go all the time and I do know that OU is not a stepping stone to another job, because OU is one of the best job out there. And if I was Detroit managment. I would draft Sam and hold him out for a year, and put another 20 pounds on him and wait till he knows the offence. And then get him ready for the speed of the game before I play him all year long. BOOMER SOONER!!!
Time has changed College football. Remember when NU and OU would suite up nearly 250 kids. Side-lines were full of bodies. Now everyone is limited in scholarships. When they leave, the hole left is huge. Injuries, transfers all add up. Between the BCS and this the ability to develop a team and be consistent is harder than ever. Physically some are ready, mentally others are not. Going to the lions has been (as previously mentioned) the grave yard for OU and others. BCS has changed the bowl games too. Use to be the goal of teams. Get excited about year end etc. OU, Alabama, and others are now getting thumped by teams that would never beat them in the regular season. Nothing to gain by beating a Utah or others….Significance is left to the $$$ in the bank for the Conf. and those teams who don’t go.
I really hope Sam doesnt leave OU. I think that he thinks his education is very important, & on top of that, he has made the most exciting OU football season that I have seen in the 5 seasons I have been watching them. If he leaves OU footbal will never be the same!!!! I actually went to the TCU game & sat very close to the players & even though we spanked their butts, it was still VERY exciting!
bwahahahahahahahahah! sam stayed!!! but it’s not just sam that is staying. there is a whole lot more to life than money (or money made quickly). these fellas have integrtity and loyalty… God bless ‘em.
I’m glad all four proved your odds to be wrong. As ed said, God bless these young men for their decisions.
Berry, I love your articles as well as your Blog. One thing on your Blog up at the top where you have the football players pictures would you include one that has Leon Heath as
he is my all time favorite football player. Tracked him down to get his autograph when I was 17. Also I am sorry to learn of the death of Bob Hurt as I certainly enjoyed his columns.
Once again you are my favorite sports writer for the Oklahoman.
As ever,
Carolyn