Sooners vs. Hurricanes … College Preview 10/3

A decade ago, this would have been the premier game of the 2009 college football season.

It’s Oklahoma and Miami, the Sooners and the Hurricanes and athletes, athletes everywhere.

Even now, it’s going to get a lot of attention thanks to the comeback of the Hurricanes. After some down seasons, head coach Randy Shannon has the Canes again playing at a level that ranks them among the country’s top 25 teams.

Playing at home will be helpful for Miami because there’s no question if the level of talent is judged by potential pros, then Oklahoma has a big advantage. Even with QB Sam Bradford and TE Jermaine Gresham on the sidelines for this game because of injury. The Sooners still have talented players like DT Gerald McCoy (right) who is the leader of the defense.

The game begins at 7 p.m. CDT and can be seen on ABC-TV.

Here are the prospects:

OKLAHOMA

QB Sam Bradford (#14) – 6-4, 223 pounds, JR-Redshirt: A sprained shoulder in the Sooners opener has derailed the season of the reigning Heisman Trophy winner. Bradford has missed the last two games because of a sprained AC join in that right shoulder. There was an outside chance this past week that he would play against the Hurricanes, but it was announced Thursday that he would not start. Bradford has all the physical skills that NFL teams are looking for at quarterback. He’s got good size, a powerful arm and at Oklahoma, he’s worked in the spread and taken snaps under center. He’s also been surrounded by talented teammates throughout his career under Bob Stoops. Bradford decided to return to Norman after last season, and considering the injury, it would seem unlikely that he would come back for the 2010 season. He’s a first-round pick, possibly the first player to be selected, if he returns from the shoulder injury and shows he has no problems throwing the ball.

TE Jermaine Gresham (#18) – 6-6, 258 pounds, SR: A knee injury just before the opener ended Gresham’s season before it even got started. He’s already decided to enter the 2010 NFL Draft. The cartilage damage in his right knee will take five months to heal, so he’ll be ready to work out for teams in the spring before the draft. Last year, he led the Sooners with 66 catches for 950 yards and 14 TDs. Very good hands, runs good routes and is a polished receiver at the tight end position. If he can come back from the knee injury and show that he’s retained his 4.6-second speed in the 40-yard dash, Gresham will be a first-round selection.

DT Gerald McCoy (#93) – 6-4, 298 pounds, JR-Redshirt: McCoy considered coming out last season after the Sooners lost to Florida in the BCS title game. The NFL Draft Advisory Board told him he was a top half of the first-round pick at that time. McCoy decided to come back for a third season at OU and if he performs as he did in his first two seasons and stays healthy, he has a chance to be a top five pick. Big, strong, powerful in the middle of the Oklahoma defense, he has eight tackles and one sack in three ’09 games. Overall in 30 games, he has 9.5 sacks with 57 total tackles and one interception. McCoy is a first-rounder.

OT Trent Williams (#71) – 6-5, 318 pounds, SR: Last year, Williams was All-Big 12 at right tackle, but he’s moved to left tackle this season replacing Phil Loadholt who was a second-round pick of the Vikings in the ’09 NFL Draft. But right tackle may be the spot that’s best for him in the NFL. Scouts love his size and power, but wonder about his quickness to handle outside pass rushers on the edge. His inability to handle an inside blitzer led to the blow that injured Bradford. Right tackle is his spot and he should be a first-round pick with that future.

CB Dominique Franks (#1) – 5-11, 192 pounds, JR-Redshirt: A very good athlete, with top-end speed, Franks continues to improve in his coverage skills and is climbing NFL charts. He’s got sub 4.4-second speed in the 40-yard dash, and he’s a big-play performer, scoring last year on a fumble return and interception return. In 30 games he has four interceptions and 56 total tackles. He’s also been an effective punt returner. Franks is hovering right at the border of the first and second rounds in the eyes of scouts.

RB DeMarco Murray (#7) – 6-0, 214 pounds, JR-Redshirt: Murray ended the ’08 season with a hamstring injury in the Big 12 Championship Game that knocked him out of the BCS Championship Game. He then started the ’09 season by pulling the other hamstring. Murray showed last year what kind of production he can provide, as he had 2,171 total yards in rushing, receiving and returning. His ’07 season was ended by a dislocated knee cap. Strong, fast and athletic, there isn’t much Murray can’t do on the field if he stays healthy. His career numbers are impressive. In 27 games, he’s run for 1,985 yards on 338 carries with 29 TDs. He has caught 51 passes for 543 yards and 3 TDs and he’s returned 43 kickoffs for an average of 28.2 yards and two touchdowns. Another big season will push Murray into the first round.

MIAMI

DT Allen Bailey (#57) – 6-3, 288 pounds, JR: The folks in the Hurricane program have been waiting for Bailey to reach his potential since he arrived on campus. He arrived as a linebacker, moved to defensive end and now he’s at defensive tackle. Naturally powerful, with great quickness and speed, Bailey could become a millionaire if the NFL if he learns how to play the game. So far in three games, he has six total tackles and one sack. Over his career he’s played in 27 games without much production, 34 total tackles and that one sack. Bailey could be a first, second or third-round player and that will be based on this season, if he decides to come out.

G Orlando Franklin (#74) – 6-6, 318 pounds, JR-Redshirt: One of the Hurricanes team captains this season, Franklin is starting to come into his own as a blocker. He’s now been a 28-game starter for Miami. Franklin is a powerful blocker and plays with intensity although he’s not shown that in the weight room and conditioning. He’s got the size and feet to move outside to right tackle if necessary. A native of Jamaica, who then moved to Canada and then to Florida, Franklin is on the older side as well. Franklin is viewed as a third-round talent.

OT Jason Fox (#64) – 6-6, 314 pounds, SR: Fox was a high school tight end who made the transition quickly to tackle with Miami, playing as a freshman at right tackle and since then on the left side. Athletic with very good feet and the ability to slide outside with speed pass rushers. Fox spent most of the ’08 season playing with a sprained ankle, but he did not miss a game. He’s played in 39 games with the Hurricanes. A leader and one of the team’s captains last year and this season, Fox is a third-round projection.

RB Graig Cooper (#2) – 6-0, 205 pounds, JR: Cooper was the big-player performer who helped the Hurricanes beat Florida State in the season opener. Whether as a runner, receiver or returner, he’s capable of producing big plays with his 4.3 speed in the 40-yard dash. In ’08 he led Miami in rushing with 841 yards and will likely lead the team again this year. But it’s as a returner where he’s making his mark in ’09 as he’s averaging 31.2 yards on his 10 kickoff returns over three games. Over his 27-game career, he has 1,702 rushing yards and nine TDs, 298 receiving yards and 3 TDs, as well as 21 punt returns with a TD and he’s also thrown a 51-yard TD pass. If the Hurricanes continue to play well, Cooper’s stock will rise out of the third round, where he was pegged entering the season.