Oklahoma football: A look back at OU dominance in 2010 NFL Draft

Oklahoma football has been an active participant in 84 of the previous 86 NFL Drafts.

As Las Vegas and NFL fans from coast to coast get set for the 87th edition of the NFL Draft beginning on Thursday and running through Saturday — and the fulfillment of a lifelong dream for some 200-plus college stars hopeful of selection to the next level by one of the 32 NFL franchises — we take a look back at one of the more memorable drafts in Sooner football history.

It was a historic occasion for the Oklahoma football program on the opening night of the 2010 NFL Draft, a moment we will never forget. OU became the first program to have three players drafted among the first four picks of the NFL Draft.

Starting off the night, it was the St. Louis Rams on the clock, and they proceeded to select former Sooner quarterback Sam Bradford with the first overall pick in the draft. Just two picks later, it was former Sooner defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, who was drafted third overall to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. And the very next pick, No. 4 overall, it was former Sooner offensive tackle Trent Williams turn in the spotlight, selected by the Washington Redskins.

"“Everyone was pretty nervous,” Bradford said. “But Gerald McCoy was in there with us, and he definitely livened the mood a little bit and got things going.”"

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell had a very busy night saying “the university of Oklahoma” in the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft. It wasn’t shocking, though, that the Sooners had that many players taken early in first round.

Sam Bradford, despite coming off a collarbone injury, was still the quarterback the Rams wanted to build their future around. McCoy was a nightmare for offensive lineman, with his quick first step, and his fancy footwork for a defensive lineman. The big man,

Trent Williams, was easily going to be a top-10 pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, it was just who needed an offensive lineman the most. Williams kept Bradford clean for three years and was a mentor for young quarterback Landry Jones, who followed Bradford as the Sooner starter at quarterback.

The only school to come close to this milestone, was Notre Dame, who delivered three of the first five picks in the 1946 NFL Draft. It was very uncanny to see the Sooners finish just 8-5 in the 2009 season, capped off by a Sun Bowl win over Stanford. Despite the dominance in the 2010 NFL Draft, the Sooners had a season to forget. In the season opener, Sam Bradford went down and suffered a collarbone injury, which sidelined him for majority of the season.

It wasn’t the greatest season by Oklahoma standards, but the Sooners heard their names called early and often on the opening day of the 2010 NFL Draft. Not only did the Sooners have three of the first four picks, but yet another OU star, TE Jermaine Gresham, was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals with the 21st overall pick. Overall, four Sooners were taken in the first round, which is a remarkable accomplishment.

The Sooners got much of the love in the first round, but the Oklahoma State Cowboys also had names called. Defensive lineman Russell Okung went No. 6 overall to the Seattle Seahawks, followed by Dez Bryant going 24th to the Dallas Cowboys. There was nine Big 12 players drafted in the first round, and five of the first six picks.

"“That’s insane, ain’t it?” McCoy said that night. “We can’t play football in the Big 12, huh? First four picks? Three from Oklahoma, by the way.”"

A milestone like that won’t be broken anytime soon. It was a complete dominance from Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, and the rest of the Big 12.

It never hurts to look back at the indelible moments in OU football history, and this one ranks pretty high.