Trophy News from Bloomberg.com….
Heisman Trophy Winner Bradford Returns to Oklahoma Next Season
Jan. 15 (Bloomberg) — University of Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford wants to emulate Jason White, who led the Sooners to a second national championship game appearance the year after he won the 2003 Heisman Trophy.
Bradford, the 2008 Heisman Trophy winner, said yesterday he’ll return for his junior year. White’s feat was repeated the following year by Matt Leinart, who led the University of Southern California to the Bowl Championship Series title game in 2005, the year after he won the trophy.
Tight end Jermaine Gresham, defensive tackle Gerald McCoy and offensive tackle Trent Williams will join Bradford in their quest for a second BCS championship title after the 2009 season.
“They understand the value of gaining another year of experience and improving their position in the draft along with the value of either finishing their degree or being within a few hours of completing it,” said Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops.
Bradford, 21, an Oklahoma City native, led college football’s top division with 50 passing touchdowns last season, directing an offense that scored more than 60 points in five straight games.
“If I’d gone one way or the other it would’ve been the right decision,” Bradford said yesterday at a televised press conference. “But I do feel like I’ve made the right decision by coming back.”
He was last year’s most efficient passer in Football Bowl Subdivision play and broke the National Collegiate Athletic Association record for touchdown passes during his freshman and sophomore seasons with 86.
Bradford’s 4,720 yards passing last year ranked him third in the country behind Texas Tech’s Graham Harrell and Houston’s Case Keenum.
Bradford and University of Florida quarterback Tim Tebow, the 2007 Heisman winner, are the only sophomores to win the award, which goes to the top college football player.
Tebow, who finished third in the Heisman voting in 2008, announced Jan. 11 during a ceremony celebrating the Gators’ 24- 14 win over the Sooners in the Bowl Championship Series title game that he’ll return for his senior season.
Bradford completed 26 of 41 passes for 256 yards and two touchdowns in the title-game defeat.
Originally posted by Mason Levinson.
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