Oklahoma's Quarterback of the Future -- Let the Debate Begin

With 2007 nearing, Oklahoma fans are wondering, who's the quarterback of the future, Halzle, Bradford or Nichol? Days prior to the 2006 season, there was no question that Oklahoma's quarterback for the next two years was Rhett Bomar. Now Oklahoma fans can re-enter the debate on local sport radio, the quarterback of the future – reminisce the past Thompson or Bomar '05 battle. Now only, the local all-sports quarterback Sam Bradford or the touted Michigan quarterback Keith Nichol – but lets not forget JUCO quarterback Joey Halzle.

With the future quarterback comparisons of yesterday and today. Oklahoma's yesterday quarterback Rhett Bomar to incoming freshman Keith Nichol, Sam Bradford to UT's today Colt McCoy, or just Halzle to Heupel. Nichol a quarterback most Oklahoma fans have not seen -- doesn't make any sense for most to make any comparison.

To a quarterback that was all everything in Texas coming in, that was pedestrian at best after arriving, Nichol to Bomar The Oklahoman writes:

Nichol sounds like, cover your eyes, the anti-Rhett Bomar. "He doesn't know what he is," said Noel Dean, Nichol's coach at Lowell High. "There's a pureness about him. A naivety about who he is and it keeps him humble."

But then, some in Oklahoma think local quarterback Sam Bradford may be all everything – including the one leading Sooner Nation 9-3 (pending 10-3), including a win over your biggest rival as Colt McCoy did. The Oklahoman writes:

Can anyone say Colt McCoy? A stretch? Perhaps. No one is predicting such sudden success for Bradford -- yet. But those who know Bradford best warn not to discount his place in the race or the possibility of a McCoy-like breakthrough. "I don't know that he couldn't be the next Colt McCoy," said Bob Wilson, Bradford's high school coach at Putnam North. "A lot of people ask me, 'Is he going to be the guy? Will he be able to compete?' I don't know who will be the guy; I do know Sam Bradford will compete for the job." With Bradford, there are similarities to the situation that thrust McCoy into the hot spot at Texas this year as a redshirt freshman. Both quarterbacks were mid-level prospects, three-star recruits according to Rivals.com. McCoy was believed to just be holding the spot warm until touted recruit Jevan Snead took over, while the recruiting geeks already have Bradford supplanted by Nichol as OU's hope for the future. McCoy proved, of course, to be much more than anticipated by both would-be talent scouts and Snead, who has already left the program in fear of an inability to unseat McCoy.

So, maybe not... I don't foresee any quarterback running off any prospect looking at Oklahoma. Although, could we say a dark horse Heupel in Halzle? A JUCO quarterback leading the Sooners to a much unexpected championship in 2000. Nonetheless, all three can win – so much for Oklahoma fans to look forward to in 2007.