Kiper loves Sooner QB Bradford
Published: 9/24/2008 7:24 PM
Last Modified: 9/24/2008 7:24 PM
An interesting chat Wednesday with NFL draftnik Mel Kiper on ESPN's SportsNation. Among other things, he said Sam Bradford was the best quarterback in the Big 12 "by far" – Bradford will "have a decision to make in January," Kiper said – and tight end Jermaine Gresham also projected well into the NFL.
An excerpt:
Q: Rob (Omaha, NE): Better QBs: Big 12 or NFC West?
Mel Kiper: Oh boy...in the NFC West, you have (Matt) Hasselbeck, Trent Green, JT O'Sullivan and Kurt Warner. But you can't compare the two. The Big 12 has some great college QBs. The best is Sam Bradford. By far. It's not even close when you project to the NFL. He's tremendously accurate. Unbelieveable smarts and intelligence. He's tall. Makes great decisions. Excellent talent around him. He's going to have a decision to make in January. (Missouri's) Chase Daniel could win the Heisman, but he's not going to project highly in the NFL. (Kansas') Todd Reesing is a magician, but he lacks the physical skill you want in an NFL QB. (Colorado's) Cody Hawkins. (Kansas State's) Josh Freeman is the second best NFL prospect behind Bradford. Tall, throws a great ball. But there are some times where he makes a bad throw. (Texas') Colt McCoy. (Texas Tech's) Graham Harrell puts up big numbers, but he's a product of a system. The Big 12 is loaded with QBs.
Q: Cameron, Florida: What TE has the most NFL potential?
Mel Kiper: I really like Jermaine Gresham, Oklahoma. I think he has great athletic and physical skills. I also like Brandon Pettigrew from OK State. Those would be the top two. I like Chase Coffman of Missouri and Travis Beckum, Wisconsin. Shawn Nelson has come on from S. Mississippi. Jared Cook from South Carolina as well.
Q: Bob, Denver: Mel, does TCU have the talent to hang with OU on Saturday?
Mel Kiper: I would doubt it. Oklahoma is loaded. I want to see Oklahoma play USC in the national championship game. TCU is a good football team, but in the trenches, they're going to have trouble. Oklahoma has a great safety in Nic Harris. Too many options at the skill positions to matchup. This is a huge step up in competition for TCU compared to who they've played so far this season.
– John E. Hoover
Written by
Guerin Emig
Sports Writer
