Sam Bradford Comes Back Home for a Visit

Originally Published: Jul 7, 2010 1:44 PM CDT

Dave Carty
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

NORMAN, Oklahoma -- The No. 1 overall selection in the 2010 NFL Draft Sam Bradford visited the University of Oklahoma on Wednesday as part of the Gatorade-NFL Beat the Heat program.

Bradford knows all about facing heat, rising to stardom in Norman and winning a Heisman Trophy, but he’s readying for the biggest challenge of his professional career.

“There’s no doubt, things happen quicker at that level,” said Bradford during his OU visit. “There’s just so much more on you mentally too. You’re constantly thinking about different things. I think there was a huge jump, not only with the pace of the game and the speed but also just the mental aspect of the game as well.”

Nevertheless the former Sooner is thrilled to be putting on NFL pads.

“Going through [organized team activities] and mini-camp, just to be back on the field playing football again?it was just a blast for me to get back out there and play,” he said. “I think I’ve played really well. I’ve made a lot of progress during that time.”

The Oklahoma City native charged with the task of lifting the hapless St. Louis Rams – owners of the NFL’s worst record last season – back to prominence. He has yet to sign a contract with the team. It is common for first round selections to sign late in the summer. Uncommon is Bradford’s work ethic, which has consistently wowed scouts at every turn. He carries that same work ethic with him to Missouri.

“[I have] three weeks off,” said Bradford. “I’m just going to continue to work hard, continue to get myself in shape. That way, when I go back to training camp, I can pick up right where I left off.”

But a visit to see friends and family in Norman is well worth a slight detour in his physical preparation.

“It feels so good to be home,” he said. “I love it here. I had a great college career here, loved every moment of it. To be gone for eight weeks and to be able to come back and see familiar faces, see old friends, it just feels great.”

The “Beat the Heat” program, a joint effort by Gatorade and the NFL, is a summer-long initiative to educate and inform student athletes and coaches about the dangers of heat-related illnesses.