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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted at 8:14 a.m., Tuesday, August 21, 2007

CFB: Oklahoma picks freshman QB to start opener

Associated Press

NORMAN, Okla. — Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford was chosen to start in the Sooners' opener against North Texas, winning a three-way competition.

Bradford, a redshirt freshman, distanced himself from junior Joey Halzle and freshman Keith Nichol when he completed 12 of 17 passes for 130 yards and four touchdowns in a scrimmage Saturday.

"We are going with Sam because he earned the position," coach Bob Stoops said Tuesday in a statement. "We expect both Joey and Keith to continue working hard and competing for playing time just like all our players do at every position.

"There may be an opportunity for them at some point and it will be important for them to be ready."

Stoops said the decision was made Sunday, and Bradford was the Sooners' first-team quarterback during practice Monday.

Bradford, from Oklahoma City, succeeds Paul Thompson, who led Oklahoma to the Big 12 championship last season.

Thompson took over at quarterback in August last year, moving back to the position from wide receiver following Rhett Bomar's dismissal for breaking NCAA rules.

Bradford's father, Kent, was an offensive lineman for the Sooners in the 1970s.

None of Oklahoma's three quarterback candidates had significant experience. Halzle played in only two games last season in mop-up duty, Bradford redshirted and Nichol only arrived on campus in January after graduating early from high school

"We feel very good about all three of those guys," Stoops said. "All three have made great improvement and contributed a lot to our program."