Brandon Weeden
Encyclopedia
Brandon Kyle Weeden is the starting American football
quarterback
for the Oklahoma State University
Cowboys
. Weeden has been a finalist for the Heisman Trophy
, and the Manning Award
, while breaking school records at Oklahoma State.
to an appearance in the state semifinals in the school's first-ever playoff appearance, where he was eventually named team MVP and offensive player of the year. He finished second in Oklahoma in passing yards with 2,863. He also contributed 29 touchdowns and was an all-state baseball
player and basketball player. He graduated from Santa Fe in 2002.
, Weeden was drafted in the second round of the 2002 Major League Baseball Draft
by the New York Yankees
as their first selection in the draft. After the 2003 season, he was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers
with Jeff Weaver
and Yhency Brazoban
for Kevin Brown. Following the 2005 season, he was selected in the Rule 5 Draft
by the Kansas City Royals
.
In 2009 Weeden played in three games, including one in the absence of injured Zac Robinson
on Nov. 19. Alex Cate started the game, but Weeden replaced him at halftime and led the Cowboys to an 11-point comeback victory, 31-28 over Colorado in the nationally-televised Thursday night game.
In 2010 Weeden was named the starter for the Cowboys. In week two Weeden suffered a severe injury to his thumb, which led to two interceptions and two fumbles in a win over Troy. Weeden said, "Hurt thumb, no thumb, whatever, it doesn't matter. I don't care if I don't have a thumb. You've got to take the snaps." He followed that performance by throwing six touchdowns the following week. He was named Big-12 Offensive Player of the Week in the victory over Tulsa.
The win helped move Oklahoma State into the Coaches' Poll top 25 for the first time in 2010. Coach Gundy reflected on the win: "Sometimes, you have games like that. We were rolling on all cylinders." Weeden added, "We had a great week of practice....It was a whole lot of fun tonight." At age 28 Weeden is older than 14 quarterbacks who started for an NFL team in week 1 of the 2011 season.
So far in 2011 he has led Oklahoma State to a one-loss season at 10-1 and a number 2 ranking in the BCS Bowl standings, both school records. His performance as a quarterback has also broken school records; in total attempts, completions, yardage, and touchdowns (all which were previously held by incumbent Coach Mike Gundy
). Mike Gundy is actually third in completions and total yards, behind Weeden in 2010, and Zac Robinson
in 2009, both quarterbacks under his tenure at Oklahoma State.
.
.
(*) indicates record that has been, or is projected to be broken by Weeden's stats in 2011, when official numbers are released.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
for the Oklahoma State University
Oklahoma State University–Stillwater
Oklahoma State University–Stillwater is a land-grant, sun-grant, coeducational public research university located in Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA. OSU was founded in 1890 under the Morrill Act...
Cowboys
Oklahoma State Cowboys football
The Oklahoma State Cowboys football program represents Oklahoma State University–Stillwater in college football. The team is a member of the Big 12 Conference and completes at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. The Cowboys are led by Mike Gundy, who is in his seventh year as...
. Weeden has been a finalist for the Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
, and the Manning Award
Manning Award
The Manning Award has been presented annually since 2004 to the collegiate American football quarterback adjudged by the Sugar Bowl Committee to be the best in the United States...
, while breaking school records at Oklahoma State.
Early years
Weeden led Edmond Santa Fe High SchoolEdmond Santa Fe High School
Edmond Santa Fe High School is located in Edmond, Oklahoma, United States at 1901 SW 15th. The school has approximately 2200 students in grades 9-12. The school's mascot is the wolf and the school colors are kelly green and gray...
to an appearance in the state semifinals in the school's first-ever playoff appearance, where he was eventually named team MVP and offensive player of the year. He finished second in Oklahoma in passing yards with 2,863. He also contributed 29 touchdowns and was an all-state baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
player and basketball player. He graduated from Santa Fe in 2002.
Professional baseball career
A pitcherPitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
, Weeden was drafted in the second round of the 2002 Major League Baseball Draft
2002 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2002 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft, was held on June 4 and 5.This year's draft is featured in Michael Lewis' 2003 book Moneyball.-First Round Selections:-Supplemental First Round Compensation Selections:...
by the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
as their first selection in the draft. After the 2003 season, he was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
with Jeff Weaver
Jeff Weaver
Jeffrey Charles Weaver is a right-handed Major League Baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent. He has pitched in the majors for the Detroit Tigers, New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, St. Louis Cardinals, and Seattle Mariners...
and Yhency Brazoban
Yhency Brazobán
Yhency José "Belt-High" Brazobán is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball...
for Kevin Brown. Following the 2005 season, he was selected in the Rule 5 Draft
Rule 5 draft
The Rule 5 draft is a Major League Baseball player draft that occurs each year in December, at the annual Winter Meeting of general managers. The Rule 5 draft aims to prevent teams from stockpiling too many young players on their minor league affiliate teams when other teams would be willing to...
by the Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
.
College football career
Weeden redshirted in 2007. In 2008 he played in only one game against Missouri State.In 2009 Weeden played in three games, including one in the absence of injured Zac Robinson
Zac Robinson
-New England Patriots:Robinson was drafted by the New England Patriots in the seventh round of the 2010 NFL Draft. He signed a four-year contract on July 21, 2010...
on Nov. 19. Alex Cate started the game, but Weeden replaced him at halftime and led the Cowboys to an 11-point comeback victory, 31-28 over Colorado in the nationally-televised Thursday night game.
In 2010 Weeden was named the starter for the Cowboys. In week two Weeden suffered a severe injury to his thumb, which led to two interceptions and two fumbles in a win over Troy. Weeden said, "Hurt thumb, no thumb, whatever, it doesn't matter. I don't care if I don't have a thumb. You've got to take the snaps." He followed that performance by throwing six touchdowns the following week. He was named Big-12 Offensive Player of the Week in the victory over Tulsa.
The win helped move Oklahoma State into the Coaches' Poll top 25 for the first time in 2010. Coach Gundy reflected on the win: "Sometimes, you have games like that. We were rolling on all cylinders." Weeden added, "We had a great week of practice....It was a whole lot of fun tonight." At age 28 Weeden is older than 14 quarterbacks who started for an NFL team in week 1 of the 2011 season.
So far in 2011 he has led Oklahoma State to a one-loss season at 10-1 and a number 2 ranking in the BCS Bowl standings, both school records. His performance as a quarterback has also broken school records; in total attempts, completions, yardage, and touchdowns (all which were previously held by incumbent Coach Mike Gundy
Mike Gundy
Mike Gundy is an American football coach and former player He is currently the head football coach at Oklahoma State University–Stillwater. Gundy played college football Oklahoma State, where he was the Cowboys quarterback from 1986 to 1989. Gundy became Oklahoma State's coach on January 3, 2005...
). Mike Gundy is actually third in completions and total yards, behind Weeden in 2010, and Zac Robinson
Zac Robinson
-New England Patriots:Robinson was drafted by the New England Patriots in the seventh round of the 2010 NFL Draft. He signed a four-year contract on July 21, 2010...
in 2009, both quarterbacks under his tenure at Oklahoma State.
Personal life
In the summer of 2009 he married the former Melanie Meuser; they live in Stillwater, OklahomaStillwater, Oklahoma
Stillwater is a city in north-central Oklahoma at the intersection of U.S. 177 and State Highway 51. It is the county seat of Payne County, Oklahoma, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 45,688. Stillwater is the principal city of the Stillwater Micropolitan Statistical...
.
School Records
Brandon Weeden has set numerous records for passing, and offensive performance at Oklahoma State University, many of which surpass his current coach, Mike GundyMike Gundy
Mike Gundy is an American football coach and former player He is currently the head football coach at Oklahoma State University–Stillwater. Gundy played college football Oklahoma State, where he was the Cowboys quarterback from 1986 to 1989. Gundy became Oklahoma State's coach on January 3, 2005...
.
- Passing Yards, Season - 4,277 (2010)*
- Total Offense, Season - 4,209 (2010)*
- Completed Passes, Season - 342 (2010)*
- Completion Percentage, Season - 66.9 (2010)*
- Passing Yards, Single Game - 435 (2010, versus BaylorBaylorBaylor is a surname and the name of several places and institutions. They include:Institutions:*Baylor University in Waco, Texas*Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas*Baylor College of Dentistry, Dallas, Texas...
)* - Completions, Single Game -34 (2010, versus BaylorBaylorBaylor is a surname and the name of several places and institutions. They include:Institutions:*Baylor University in Waco, Texas*Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas*Baylor College of Dentistry, Dallas, Texas...
)*
(*) indicates record that has been, or is projected to be broken by Weeden's stats in 2011, when official numbers are released.
Career Accomplishments
- 2010 All-Big 12 Quarterback, First Team
- 2010 Heisman Trophy Nominee
- 2010 Player of the Year Award (3rd, behind teammates Kendall HunterKendall HunterKendall Hunter is an American football running back for the San Francisco 49ers. He was chosen with the 115th pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. He previously attended Oklahoma State University–Stillwater. He is the Cowboys' fourth all-time leading rusher...
and Justin BlackmonJustin BlackmonJustin Blackmon is an American football wide receiver. He currently attends Oklahoma State University–Stillwater in his junior season. He is considered one of the best wide receivers of his class....
) - 2010 Manning Award Finalist
- 2011 Heisman Trophy Nominee