U. Oklahoma made history as former Sooners were taken as three of the top four picks in the NFL Draft on Thursday night in New York City.
As expected, the St. Louis Rams selected Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Sam Bradford with the first pick.
After former Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh was taken second by the Detroit Lions, two former Sooners were taken in the third and fourth spot.
All-American defensive tackle Gerald McCoy went to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, followed by offensive tackle Trent Williams to the Washington Redskins.
With Bradford, Suh, McCoy, Williams and sixth-pick Russell Okung of Oklahoma State, the Big 12 started the evening with five of the first six selections.
OU ended the night with four first-round picks after Cincinnati selected All-American tight end Jermaine Gresham with the 21st pick.
Head football coach Bob Stoops said the night was a statement for the program.
“I am just overwhelmed and feel privileged to have had the opportunity to get to know these guys and coach them,” Stoops said. “To think that four guys who came in as members of the same recruiting class went in the first 21 picks is amazing.”
Thursday’s festivities come a year after no Sooners were selected in the first round of the 2009 NFL Draft.
The first Sooner chosen in 2009 was offensive tackle Phil Loadholt at the 54th spot to the Minnesota Vikings in the second round.
Bradford and Gresham both opted to enter this year’s draft after injuries sidelined the players for almost the entire 2009 season.
Bradford was sidelined for all but three games as repeated injuries to his AC shoulder joint ended the possibility of a return.
Gresham missed the entire season with a knee injury, ending his collegiate career five touchdowns short of former wide receiver Mark Clayton’s career record of 31.
In 2008, Bradford led the Sooners to a 12-2 record as the team broke the NCAA record for most points scored in a single season with 702 points.
Bradford also earned the Davey O’Brien Award, the Sammy Baugh Trophy and the Heisman Trophy, becoming the fifth Sooner to win the award after Billy Vessels (1952), Steve Owens (1969), Billy Sims (1978) and Jason White (2003).
As a junior, Gresham caught 66 receptions for 950 yards and scored a team-leading 14 touchdowns in garnering All-America honors from multiple media outlets.
McCoy had a year left of collegiate eligibility, but chose to forgo his senior season and enter the draft after earning enough credits to earn his degree in human relations this spring.
Williams was named a first-team All-American as a senior, ending the year as arguably the top professional prospect at offensive tackle.