Jermaine Gresham, TE

Regarded as the most dynamic tight end to wear an Oklahoma uniform since All-American Keith Jackson (1984-87), Gresham's 2009 season came to an end before it even began. A knee injury and subsequent surgery that sidelined him for the year is now fully recovered and he is primed to show the NFL that he truly is the elite prospect at his position, with the pass-catching skills that have many experts comparing him to perennial All-Pros Tony Gonzalez (Atlanta) and Antonio Gates (San Diego).

Usually, when a player misses his final season of college football, there are many questions that he will need to answer leading up to the draft. But in the case of Gresham, all he needs to prove is that his right knee is medically sound to insure that he will be the first tight end to hear his name called.

The 2010 season was supposed to be the final hurrah for Gresham, offensive tackle Trent Williams and quarterback Sam Bradford, as that trio both surprised and pleased Sooners faithful when they announced after the 2008 season they would all be returning to the university for the 2009 season.

It was their desire to capture one more national championship and bypass the riches of a lucrative contract. But Gresham and Bradford, along with several other key Sooner performers, all suffered season-ending injuries that dashed those dreams early in the season. Gresham suffered torn cartilage in his right knee prior to the season opener vs. Brigham Young and Bradford lasted just three games before a shoulder injury would put him on the sideline.

"We feel badly for Jermaine," Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said in a statement after the tight end underwent a surgical procedure on September 8th. "He worked very hard and very selflessly to get himself ready for the season. We share in the disappointment he is experiencing now and will do everything we can to help him in his rehab efforts. The good news is that he is expected to heal fully. Many athletes have had this procedure and bounced back at 100 percent. We expect that to be the case for Jermaine."

Born to Walletta Gresham and Jerry Williamson, Gresham moved with his mother, a nurse's aid, from Ardmore, Okla. to Wichita Falls, Texas in 1997. Unhappy with being away from friends and family that he left behind, the youngster begged to go back to Ardmore, so after one year of elementary school in Texas, his mother let him move back in with his father.

Gresham liked basketball better than football until Ardmore High football coach Mike Loyd started telling him he would be unique as a wide receiver/tight end at 6-foot-6 during his freshman year. At that height he would be just another basketball player, but would stand out as a football player. He quickly adapted to the game, going on to become one of the most highly rated players in the history of the program.

During his sophomore year, Gresham helped the Tigers compile a 10-2 record, coming up with countless big catches throughout the campaign. He was credited with the game clinching 29-yard touchdown in a 13-0 win vs. Ada High, followed by a 28-yard game- sealing touchdown in a 21-8 triumph over Altus High, registering 168 yards on six catches, including a 74-yard touchdown pass. He finished the season with 11 touchdowns on just 26 receptions and was named "Best Receiver" for the 2003 season by the Daily Oklahoman.

Gresham earned Class 5A All-State honors as a junior, coming up with 52 receptions for 736 yards (14.2 yards per catch) and four scores. As a senior, he collected 67 catches for 1,170 yards (17.5 yards per catch) and 24 touchdowns, adding three more catches in the playoffs. He helped the Tigers go 12-0 before losing in the 5A state semifinals to Bixby. In the quarterfinal win over Coweta, he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, which forced him to sit out his final season with the basketball team. In three seasons with the varsity, he recorded 148 receptions.

Gresham was rated the top tight end prospect in the nation by Prep Star and Rivals.com, second by College Football News and fourth by Scout.com. He was a member of the ESPN 150 and Rivals 250 squads, in addition to receiving Prep Star Dream Team Top 100 honors in 2005. He also received Super Prep and Parade All-American recognition.

Gresham was also an outstanding basketball player before giving up the sport in 2005-06 due to his left knee surgery. He started on the varsity team as a 6-4 freshman center, going on to average 10.1 points and 6.7 rebounds per game on a team led by senior point guard Lionel Brown. The Tigers made it all the way to the 2003 Class 5A state final vs. Oklahoma City's John Marshall, losing 50-46, to a team led by J. R. Giddens.

The Ardmore Tigers returned to the Class 5A championship final game for 2004, but lost to the Oklahoma City Southeast Spartans, 60-55, and finished with a 25-3 record. Gresham led the team in scoring that year, averaging 11.8 points per game to go with a 7.5 rebound average. In the championship tilt, he poured in 17 points and grabbed 15 rebounds.

The sophomore was named to the Class 5A first-team at center and was named the league's best player after averaging 16.3 points per game in the state tournament. He was also named to the All-Southern Conference team for 2003-2004.

As a junior, Gresham helped lead his team to the 2005 Class 5A state tournament semifinals with a 17.3-point season scoring average, losing to Tulsa Washington High School 71-61 (a team that included Dallas Cowboys tailback Felix Jones). In the game, Gresham stole the ball and dunked it over three defenders with 5:25 left in the third quarter, but he was penalized with a technical foul for hanging on the rim. This sparked Washington High to a 17-6 run to end the quarter at 54-40, and Ardmore never got any closer than nine (with 26 seconds remaining) the rest of the way.

For the season, Gresham averaged 26.5 points per game in the state tournament and was named to the Class 5A Boys All-Tournament first-team. He scored a career-high 39 points in a quarterfinal 78-74 win over Oklahoma City John Marshall. And for the campaign, he shot 62.3% from the field and averaged 10.2 rebounds. He received All-State second-team honors and was named the starting center to the Class 5A All-State team. He was also named the Southern Conference Boys' Player of the Year.

Early in 2005 recruiting wars, Gresham was originally intending to enroll at Louisiana State. But, right after his December knee surgery, Tigers head coach Les Miles rescinded his scholarship offer, despite being rated among the nation's elite at his position. Back on the recruiting hot stove, he considered offers from several of the big universities.

High school national analyst Jeremy Crabtree of Rivals.com called Gresham a "slam-dunk" prospect along with Oklahoma City Southeast defensive lineman Gerald McCoy. Both would eventually end up playing and starring for the Oklahoma Sooners. The receiver made just three recruiting trips (Southern California, Miami and Oklahoma) before making his decision, choosing to stay near home, so his mother could see him play.

Gresham really liked the tradition of tight ends at Miami (Bubba Franks, Jeremy Shockey and Kellen Winslow Jr.), as well as the camaraderie and closeness of the players there, but in the end it came down to being close to family and friends. He also loved the way his Oklahoma recruiters, Kevin Sumlin and Jackie Shipp, interacted with their own families. He signed with the Sooners on Feb. 1, 2006.

Despite being just eight months removed from knee surgery, Gresham was the talk of Oklahoma's fall camp in 2006. Even though he would be brought along slowly during the course of his freshman campaign, praises from staff and teammates filled the news wires leading up to the 2006 campaign. He would start two of the fourteen games he played in, finishing with 161 yards and a touchdown on eight catches (20.13 ypc), as his 41-yard grab vs. Texas was the longest catch by a freshman in school annals.

Ball-security issues early in the 2007 season kept Gresham playing most of his sophomore season in a reserve role, earning just three starting assignments in 14 games, but he proved to be one of the most lethal weapons for an offense that averaged 448.93 yards per game. He caught 37 passes for 518 yards (14.0 yards per catch), as his 11 touchdowns rank third on the school season-record list and he set the team record for most scores by a tight end in a campaign. He also earned All-American honorable mention from Sports Illustrated.

Finally named the team's full-time starter at tight end, Gresham was named to several All-American first-team squads. The John Mackey Award (nation's best tight end) finalist broke his own school tight end record with 14 touchdowns and also established Sooner tight end records with 66 receptions (fourth overall in school history) for 950 yards (fifth-best by a Sooner in a season).

Release: Despite his height, he gets off the line quickly whether standing up or in three-point stance. Finds second gear to accelerate past linebackers. Does not face the jam often, and must learn to use his hands to defeat it.

Hands: Has worked hard to improve consistency here, and makes some very difficult catches in traffic - but still short-arms some balls and allows others into his chest. Adjusts to poorly thrown balls in any direction. Typically secures the ball before heading upfield, but gets a bit loose on occasion. Superior height and excellent vertical for his size make him a top jump ball target.

Route running: Runs short, intermediate and deep routes effectively. Smooth runner. Quicker feet than expected, and runs tight routes inside and out. Sits down in zones and presents a large target. Will use head and body fakes before planting to cut. Constantly threatens the deep seam, as teams use a cornerback to cover him. Uses his big body to shield defenders over the middle and especially in the red zone.

After the catch: Runs like a large wide receiver but is as strong as an ox after the catch. Makes defenders miss with a quick stop move and is strong enough to push oncoming tacklers by. Also able to leap defenders going for his legs. Not in the Tony Gonzalez mold for fluidity but comes fairly close. Will lean forward to run through arm tackles, sometimes requiring three defenders to bring him down.

Blocking: Effective, if not dominating, blocker in-line and on the edge when lined in the slot or in motion. On run plays he will get wide and put hands into the numbers to anchor. Latches onto defensive backs on downfield blocks, and will take them 25-30 yards downfield in front of screens. Strong enough to pancake smaller ends crashing down the line. Could be more consistent using his hands and feet to sustain. Must learn to pick up corner blitzes.

Intangibles: Proving his ability to come back from injury would be a big boost to his character grade. Team player who blocks with the same vigor he shows after the catch. Arrest for failing to appear to settle a speeding ticket in April 2009 should not have a significant impact on his draft stock.

NFL Comparison: Marcedes Lewis, Jaguars

Gresham started 19-of-42 games at Oklahoma, catching 111 passes for 1,629 yards (14.68 yards per catch) and 26 touchdowns, adding five yards on a rushing attempts, 156 points and four tackles (3 solos). His 26 touchdown receptions set the school career-record for tight ends and rank ninth all-time among tight ends in the NCAA (record-holder is Ibn Green of Louisville with 33; 1996-99). Those 26 touchdowns rank second overall (all positions) in Oklahoma annals behind receiver Mark Clayton (31, 2001-4). The only Big Twelve tight end with more touchdown grabs was Chase Coffman of Missouri (30, 2005-08). His 14 touchdown catches in 2008 broke his own school tight end season-record of 11 in 2007 …

On Oklahoma's overall season-record list, just Mark Clayton (15 in 2003) had more scoring grabs in a season. Also set the school career-record for tight ends with 1,629 yards receiving, inching past Keith Jackson (1,609 yards, 1984-87). His 1,629 yards placed eighth on the university's overall career-record list. His 950 yards receiving in 2008 rank fifth on the school's overall season-record chart and are the most ever by an Oklahoma tight end. Ranks second among Sooners tight ends with 111 receptions, topped by Trent Smith's 164 grabs (1999-2002). Gresham's 66 receptions in 2008 tied the school tight end record (Trent Smith had 66 in 2001) and rank fourth overall behind Mark Clayton (83 in 2003) and Juaquin Iglesias (74 in 2008 and 68 in 2007). His nine receptions vs. Oklahoma State in 2008 rank third on the school tight end game-record list, topped by Trent Smith (11 vs. Kansas in 20021) and Gordon Brown (10 vs. Oklahoma State in 1965). His 158 yards receiving in that 2008 Oklahoma State clash set a new tight end game-record at Oklahoma. His four touchdown catches vs. Texas A&M tied the Sooner's overall and tight end game-record that he now shares with Trent Smith (vs. Kansas in 2001). Gresham averaged 13.8 yards per touchdown catch in 2007, but that figure ballooned to 22.1 yards in 2008.

Gresham never played for the Sooners after undergoing surgery on September 8th to repair cartilage damage in his right knee. The tight end suffered the injury late in August camp and trainers first thought it was just a sprain. Head coach Bob Stoops notified the media that Gresham underwent a scope to determine the severity of the knee injury he sustained during practice. Doctors made the determination that Gresham required extended surgery to stitch together the cartilage in his knee. The loss of Gresham for the season is a potentially catastrophic blow to the Sooners' offense. Because Gresham played as a true freshman in 2006, he could have elected to take a medical redshirt this season, but on Sept. 29, Stoops announced that the tight end, who would not play for the rest of the season, had announced he would not utilize his medical redshirt and would be applying for early entry into the 2010 NFL Draft.

First-team All-American selection by The NFL Draft Report and The Sporting News, adding second-team accolades from the Walter Camp Foundation and Associated Press … Consensus All-Big Twelve Conference first-team pick … Finalist for the Mackey Award, given to the nation's top tight end … Ranked second on the team with 66 receptions for 950 yards (14.39 yards per catch) and 14 touchdowns … His yardage and touchdown totals were the most by an Oklahoma tight end in a season … His 66 receptions tied the tight end season record first set by Trent Smith (2001) and rank fourth on the school's overall annual record chart … Caught multiple touchdowns in five performances and had at least one scoring grab in nine contests … Caught 66-of-92 passes targeted to him (71.74%), as he produced 43 first downs, converting 14-of-23 third-down attempts and 0-of-1 on fourth-down … Had 33 catches for at least 10 yards, including 12 for 20 yards or longer … Credited with key pass receptions on 25 Oklahoma touchdown drives and on one possession that resulted in a field goal.

All-American honorable mention by The NFL Draft Report and Sports Illustrated … All-Big Twelve Conference honorable mention by the league's coaches and media … Started three games and 11 of his 37 receptions resulted in touchdowns, setting the school tight end season-record (11 scoring grabs also tied Travis Wilson, 2004, for the second-best season total, overall, by a Sooners player). Gained 518 yards (14.0 yards per catch) and added three solo tackles, including a solo hit vs. both Iowa State and Oklahoma State, adding an assisted stop vs. Texas A&M.

Gresham played in 14 games as a true freshman, catching eight passes for 161 yards (20.13 yards per catch) and a touchdown … His first reception was good for 14 yards in the Alabama-Birmingham clash … Added a 22-yard touchdown catch vs. Middle Tennessee … Followed with a season-long 41-yarder (longest reception ever by an Oklahoma freshman) vs. Texas … Had a 35-yard snatch vs. Nebraska in the Big Twelve title game and scored on a two-point conversion vs. Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl.

2005: In his playoffs vs. Coweta High, Gresham suffered a left knee anterior cruciate ligament tear that required surgery (12/09) to repair.

2009: Sat out the season after undergoing September 8th surgery to repair cartilage damage in his right knee … Was hurt in the final week of August camp.

Campus: 4.67 in the 40-yard dash … 1.55 10-yard dash … 2.62 20-yard dash … 4.23 20-yard shuttle … 11.29 60-yard shuttle … 6.92 three-cone drill … 34-inch vertical jump … 9'8" broad jump … Bench pressed 225 pounds 18 times.

2009: Gresham was arrested in April 2009 for failing to pay (or set a court appearance to settle) a February 2009 seat belt citation.

Attended Ardmore (Okla.) High School, playing football for head coach Mike Lloyd … During his sophomore year, Gresham helped the Tigers compile a 10-2 record, coming up with countless big catches throughout the campaign … Credited with the game clinching 29-yard touchdown in a 13-0 win vs. Ada High, followed by a 28-yard game- sealing touch-down in a 21-8 triumph over Altus High, registering 168 yards on six catches, including a 74-yard touchdown pass … Finished the season with 11 touchdowns on just 26 catches and was named "Best Receiver" for the 2003 season by the Daily Oklahoman … Earned Class 5A All-State honors as a junior, coming up with 52 receptions for 736 yards (14.2 yards per catch) and four scores … As a senior, he collected 67 catches for 1,170 yards (17.5 yards per catch) and 24 touchdowns, adding three more catches in the playoffs … That year, he helped the Tigers go 12-0 before losing in the 5A state semifinals to Bixby … In the quarter-final win over Coweta, he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, which forced him to sit out his final season with the basketball team … In three seasons with the varsity, he had 148 receptions … Rated the top tight end prospect in the nation by Prep Star and Rivals.com, second by College Football News and fourth by Scout.com … Member of the ESPN 150 and Rivals 250 squads, in addition to receiving Prep Star Dream Team Top 100 honors in 2005. He also received Super Prep and Parade All-American recognition … Also an outstanding basketball player before giving up the sport in 2005-06 due to his left knee surgery … Started on the varsity team as a 6 … 4 … freshman center, going on to average 10.1 points and 6.7 rebounds per game on a team led by senior point guard Lionel Brown … The Tigers made it all the way to the 2003 Class 5A state final vs. Oklahoma City's John Marshall, losing 50-46, to a team led by J. R. Giddens … The Ardmore Tigers returned to the Class 5A championship final game for 2004, but lost to the Oklahoma City Southeast Spartans, 60-55, and finished with a 25-3 record … Gresham led the team in scoring that year, averaging 11.8 points per game to go with a 7.5 rebound average … In the championship tilt, he poured in 17 points and grabbed 15 rebounds … The sophomore was named to the Class 5A first-team at center and was named the league's best player after averaging 16.3 points per game in the state tournament … Also named to the All-Southern Conference team for 2003-2004 … As a junior, Gresham helped lead his team to the 2005 Class 5A state tournament semifinals with a 17.3-points per game season average, losing to Tulsa Washington High School 71-61 (a team that included Dallas Cowboys tailback, Felix Jones). In the game, Gresham stole the ball and dunked it over three defenders with 5:25 left in the third quarter, but he was penalized with a technical foul for hanging on the rim. This sparked Washington High to a 17-6 run to end the quarter at 54-40, and Ardmore never got any closer than nine (with 26 seconds remaining) the rest of the way … For the season, Gresham averaged 26.5 points-per-game in the state tournament and was named to the Class 5A Boys All-Tournament first-team … Scored a career-high 39 points in a quarterfinal 78-74 win over Oklahoma City John Marshall … For the campaign, he shot 62.3% from the field and averaged 10.2 rebounds … Received All-State second-team honors and was named the starting center to the Class 5A All-State team … Also named the Southern Conference Boys' Player of the Year.

Multidisciplinary Studies major … Son of Walletta Gresham and Jerry Williamson … Born 6/16/88 … Resides in Ardmore, Oklahoma.