Eldridge wins Don Key Award

Originally Published: Nov 28, 2009 3:56 PM CDT

Steve McGehee
Oklahoma Sports

NORMAN, Oklahoma -- Brody Eldridge was presented the Don Key award before the OU-OSU football game at Owen Field.The award goes annually to a senior football player at Oklahoma. OU coaches consider the award as the highest honor a Sooner player can receive during their tenure at Oklahoma.

The award is named after Don Key, a former Oklahoma player. Key was a three-year starter for the Sooners. Until cancer cut his career short in 1981. The following season, former OU Head Coach Barry Switzer started the award in honor of Don’s achievements and bravery.

Key was present for the announcement at midfield.

“He (Eldridge) is very dedicated, very loyal and he’s played with pain,” Key said.

Eldridge, an OU team captain suffered a slightly broken hand before the season started, and suffered a shoulder injury in the loss at Nebraska. The injury at Nebraska would knock him out for the rest of the season. Eldridge was very versatile for the Sooner offense, playing multiple positions along the offensive line in 2009.