Gresham's still learning — but quickly

By Scott Wright

Published: December 22, 2006

NORMAN — Immediately after the Big 12 Championship game, while others were complimenting him on the one great play he made, Jermaine Gresham was thinking hard about all the other plays he didn't make.

"I didn't block anybody out there,” Gresham told Oklahoma offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson following the Sooners' 21-7 win over Nebraska on Dec. 2.

It's that mindset — along with his obvious athletic ability — that has the young OU tight end potentially on the road to greatness.

"That's a quality of all upper-level players,” Wilson said. "He has all the talent, a great work ethic, the physical skills that you want. But his desire to realize that he can do better, that's an attribute. He's a prideful kid. And he cares. And he wants to (get better).”

Gresham only gave Sooner fans a taste of his athletic talent in his true freshman season.

He had a 41-yard reception against Texas, the 35-yarder on third-and-long in the Big 12 title game. Eight catches for 161 yards and a touchdown for the season.

It doesn't seem like much, but those were the times the 6-foot-7, 250-pound tight end's raw physical tools were on display.

When he catches up on the mental aspect of the game is when his career could take off, says OU's co-offensive coordinator Kevin Sumlin.

"A lot of guys come in with tremendous ability, but they're overwhelmed by the schemes and the thought processes,” Sumlin said. "Plays can change at the line of scrimmage and so can the play within the play, meaning the defense might change right then, too.

"For a young guy, that's very difficult, to be able to process that and still use your athletic ability to play.”

It's not that Gresham isn't smart enough. He's simply being asked to do things he's never done before.

"His learning curve, it just started in August,” Wilson said.

"He's actually much more physical and stronger than Joe Jon Finley right now. It's the ability to know all the adjustments that happen. He's just been a little like a fish out of water in understanding things.”

Then there's blocking. As a wide receiver at Ardmore last year, Gresham's blocking assignments were on cornerbacks and maybe the occasional linebacker. Not 270-pound, defensive ends.

"Coach Wilson's on me all the time to pick up the blocking schemes. It was all new coming in,” Gresham said. "All it is is effort. If you give effort, you should be all right.”

It's a learning experience that Finley, a junior and the Sooners' starting tight end, knows something about.

"I was the same way,” Finley said. "I was a quarterback coming in. He was a receiver. It's tough. It's a whole different level with the defensive ends that are real big. You've got to learn to use your technique, and he's been working hard on that.”

Finley can see Gresham processing schemes and assignments much quicker than when he first arrived.

"That gives him the confidence to go out and just play instead of thinking so much,” Finley said. "As he keeps getting more confident with the plays, he just continues to get better.

"The sky's the limit for him, for sure.”

And it can't be forgotten that Gresham is 11 months removed from ACL surgery. With another nine months to strengthen his knee, who knows what 2007 will hold for Gresham.

"He will push the returning starter to be the starter next year,” Wilson said.

"Sometimes right now he struggles a little bit, gets a little overwhelmed, is a little out of his element. He's learning. But it does not temper his desire to be a great player. And he truly has a chance to maybe be a great player.”