Former Yankee prospect leads Oklahoma State to 6-0 record

QB Brandon Weeden has Oklahoma State on a roll. They're 6-0 and ranked No. 14 in the BCS rankings. Weeden has already passed for 1966 yards, 19 TD's and just 8 interceptions. Those 19 touchdowns lead the Big 12. He also leads the Big 12 in completion percentage (68.9) and passing efficiency (163.0). He has turned into a great college quarterback. But, he's a 27 year old Junior. Why? Well, if you read the title of this post, you know that he's a former Yankees prospect.

In 2002, Weeden was drafted out of high school by the Yankees with their 2nd round pick, their top pick that year. He had a nice debut in '02 at Rookie ball, going 2-1 with a 2.86 ERA, 30 K's, and 1 save in 7 starts, 4 relief appearancs and 34.2 IP. He allowed 29 hits, less than 1 per inning, and allowed just 1 home run. But, he allowed 16 walks, a ratio of 4.2 per 9 innings. In '03, Weeden did even better, going 2-2 with a 2.58 ERA and 38 K's in 9 starts, 3 relief appearnces, and 45.1 IP between Rookie ball and SS-A Staten Island at age 19. He appeared to be heading towards a great career for the Yankees. Then, everything change. In a move that was so Yankee-like, the Yankees traded Weeden, Jeff Weaver, and another prospect for a washed-up Kevin Brown. Weeden was never the same. After 3 straight years in the minors with ERA's over 5.00, Weeden retired at age 22.

In 2007, Weeden went back to college at Oklahoma State and redshirted in football. In '08, he threw 1 completion for 8 yards in addition to 2 incompletions. In '09, he went from nobody to at least somebody. With Zac Robinson injured, Weeden stepped up, going 15 for 24 with 4 touchdowns and just 1 interception in 3 games. That was enough for him to be named starter this season. Weeden realizes that pro football probably won't be his next profession. In fact, he is working on a pharmaceuticals degree and plans to be pharmacist. He'll go where his life takes him, on the field or off. But the future's still a little while away. Right now, he just has to work on beating Nebraska this Saturday and everything else will fall into place.