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SCOUT'S TAKE

Pros: Gresham has superior size, strength, athleticism, and pass-catching ability. Last season, Gresham had 66 catches for 950 yards, and led the team with 14 touchdowns. Those 14 touchdowns in a season were more than any tight end in school history (a school that produced Keith Jackson)and put him second all-time behind Mark Clayton (15) among Sooners. He currently has 26 career touchdowns and needs eight more to set the mark.

Cons: He needs to add some bulk, which would help his blocking come along.

Skinny: Gresham returned for his senior season with some unfinished business. Making it to the National Championship game in 2008 wasn’t enough—he wanted to get back and win it all. However, before the season even began his senior campaign was finished when he sustained a knee injury.  Still the most talented tight end in the draft, this Sooner should be a first round pick.

Stock: Gresham would have been a top-fifteen pick if he would have declared as a junior. He has the size and speed that teams look for in a receiving tight end. He is a better receiver than Brandon Pettigrew—a first round pick in the 2009 NFL draft—but not as good of a blocker, so he’ll have to improve that aspect of his game.

Our View: Gresham is out for the whole season this season with a knee injury, but he is expected to be back at 100% by April, the question will be will he use this as a red-shirt year and come back next season or will he enter the NFL Draft. If he entered last year draft he would have been a top fifteen pick if he would have entered this year draft. He has the size and speed that teams look for in a receiving tight end. He is a better receiver then Brandon Pettigrew would was a first round pick in this pass year NFL draft, but in not as good of a blocker and need to get better in that aspect of his game. He could use to get stronger and add some bulk and that would help his blocking come along. Last season Gresham has 66 catches for 950 yards, and lead the team with 14 touchdowns. His 14 touchdowns is more touchdown grabs during the season than any TE in school history.

NEWS

12.31.09 - Oklahoma TE Jermaine Gresham, who missed the entire season after undergoing knee surgery, has reportedly been running and cutting on the sidelines during practices this week. Gresham, who was on crutches for a couple of months following a surgical procedure that stitched back together torn cartilage in his knee, is still planning to enter the 2010 draft where he hopes to be a first-round pick, although he likely won’t be 100% during pre-draft testing.

09.29.09 - University of Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops admitted during Tuesday's weekly press conference that tight end Jermaine Gresham will enter the NFL Draft after this season, Jake Trotter of the Oklahoman reports. Gresham is out for the year with a cartilage injury to his knee.Because he played as a true freshmen in 2006 he had the option of using this season to redshirt and coming back in 2010. But that will not be the case. The junior tight end is rated as the number one overall tight end for the upcoming 2010 NFL Draft and a projected first-round pick.

09.08.09 - Oklahoma tight end Jermaine Gresham will miss the remainder of the year, after season-ending surgery on his injured knee. Gresham underwent arthroscopic surgery to repair torn cartilage. The recovery time for that procedure is usually about five months, which would be just in time for the NFL Scouting Combine in February. It is also worth noting Gresham has yet to red-shirt and could opt to return to school next fall.

04.15.09 - Oklahoma all-world tight end Jermaine Gresham was arrested for failing to pay/appear on a seat belt violation from last February. Upon arrest Gresham coughed up the $349 and he was on his way. Gresham was a finalist for the Mackey Award last season after producing 66 receptions for 950 yards and a team-leading 14 touchdown receptions. He passed up a shot as a likely first-round draft selection in the upcoming NFL draft to return to Oklahoma for his senior season in 2009. Gresham and the Sooners concluded spring practice on Tuesday. He did not play in the Red-White game Saturday, along with several other key offensive players, for precautionary reasons.

01.15.09 - Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford announced Wednesday that he will return to college for another season. The Heisman Trophy winner's announcement came at the same time that two other key offensive teammates similarly announced they will be coming back. Tackle Trent Williams and tight end Jermaine Gresham will return. Earlier this week, Oklahoma defensive tackle Gerald McCoy also announced he will return for next season.

12.29.08 - While Gresham only starter three games in 2007, he did enough to earn Honorable Mention All-Big 12 and All-America honors from Sports Illustrated. He didn't put up large yardage numbers (37 receptions, 518 yards) but 11 of his catches went for touchdowns. This season, Gresham has picked up where he left off with 58 receptions for 888 yards and 12 touchdowns. At 6-6, 260, he has the size NFL teams like, but his athletic ability may be what sets him apart from the rest.

12.03.08 - John Mackey POW: Jermaine Gresham, OU

12.16.08 - The Touchdown Club of Columbus announced Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford and tight end Jermaine Gresham as recipients of the club’s annual honors. Gresham was the club’s tight end of the year. Each player will be honored during the 54th Touchdown Club of Columbus Awards Banquet on Feb. 7 in Columbus, Ohio.

08.16.08 - Jermaine Gresham, Oklahoma's uncommonly talented junior tight end, says he's not giving much consideration to leaving school a year early to play in the NFL. "No," he said. "My first thing here is to get a degree. I really don't see it happening. And I'm not good enough either. That's a no-brainer." The last two years, OU has lost four players early to the NFL draft: Adrian Peterson in 2007, Malcolm Kelly, Curtis Lofton and Reggie Smith this year. Gresham says he won't be joining them next year. "I don't think I'm ready," he said. "If I went out there and had like A.D. (Peterson) talent, then that's a no-brainer. But I don't have that talent."

VITALS

Honor Roll: In 2008, Gresham was named First Team All-American by the Sporting News, Second Team All-American by the Associated Press and Walter Camp, All-Big 12 First Team by the coaches, and Second Team All-Big 12 by the Associated Press. He was also a finalist for the Mackey Award. In 2007, he was named honorable mention All-American by Sports Illustrated and honorable mention All-Big 12 by the coaches and Associated Press.

High School: Gresham played at Ardmore High School in his hometown. There, he was a First Team All-American, All-State First Team, and named District 5A-1 Most Valuable Player. He caught 70 passes for 1,205 yards and 24 touchdowns in his senior season.

Personal: Gresham is majoring in multidisciplinary studies.

Bio

Photo Credit: OU Athletics Department