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By MURRAY EVANS Associated Press Writer
NORMAN, Okla. (AP) -- Tommy Grady had no qualms at all about returning to Oklahoma -- even if it only was for one day.
The Sooners hosted their annual Pro Day on Tuesday, drawing scouts from almost every NFL team. Among the 16 players participating was the 6-foot-6, 239-pound Grady, a quarterback who left Oklahoma before the 2005 season after not winning the starting job and transferred to Utah.
Grady openly talked with former teammates and embraced Oklahoma quarterbacks coach Josh Heupel. Grady said Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops gave his blessing for him to attend.
"I regret leaving this place," Grady said, looking around the Everest Training Center. "Like (former Oklahoma assistant) coach (Chuck) Long said, it's not always greener on the other side. I was looking forward to leaving, but I wish I would have stayed here."
Grady, a highly recruited California high school star, signed with Oklahoma in 2003. After a redshirt season, he spent 2004 as a backup to senior Jason White, then entered the following spring in a three-way competition for the starting job with Rhett Bomar and Paul Thompson.
Grady was taking a necessary inter-session class and was not able to practice with the Sooners in the fall of 2005, which caused him to fall behind Thompson and Bomar. Oklahoma coaches eventually anointed Thompson the starter before switching to Bomar early in the season.
But by that point, Grady already had left Norman, having transferred before the season started.
Oklahoma's quarterback issues since Grady's transfer are well-documented. Bomar struggled with consistency during 2005, throwing 10 touchdowns and 10 interceptions as a freshman, then was kicked off the team just weeks before the 2006 season because of NCAA violations.
Thompson, by then a receiver, moved back to quarterback and guided the Sooners to a Big 12 Conference title. The Sooners entered 2007 without a proven quarterback, although redshirt freshman Sam Bradford emerged from a three-way race and ended up passing for 3,121 yards and an NCAA freshman record 36 touchdowns.
Grady said it's no use thinking about what might have happened had he stayed.
"I try not to look back too much," he said. "... I've grown up a lot since I left."
Grady sat out the 2005 season because of NCAA transfer rules, then spent the last two years as a backup for Utah, although he did start three games last season after starter Brian Johnson was injured. In a 44-6 rout of then-No. 11 UCLA, Grady passed for three touchdowns and a career-high 243 yards.
He ended up playing in six games for the Utes last season, passing for 681 yards and four touchdowns with three interceptions.
Grady said he participated in Utah's pro day on Monday, then flew to Oklahoma for Tuesday's workout. More scouts showed up at Oklahoma, he said, and the Sooners were happy to have him, as they needed a quarterback for the event's individual workouts.
Grady said scouts have told him they like his size and arm.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APTV-03-11-08 1651MDT
