Oklahoma begins the 2018 season with an inexperienced quarterback who is likely to stick around for only this season.
So, who is this guy? And how did he get here?
And despite this unusual situation, why is almost everyone excited that OU Coach Lincoln Riley named Kyler Murray the starter for Saturday’s opening game at home against Florida Atlantic (11 am Fox Sports)?
First, we should know that redshirt junior Murray was ESPN’s No. 1 high school quarterback recruit coming out of Allen, Texas. He never lost again a game in 43 starts at QB and won several national player of the year awards his senior season.
In fact Murray had legendary status at Allen. Current teammate (and likely WR target for Murray’s passes) CeeDee Lamb, who played at Richmond Foster High School in Texas at the same time that Murray was becoming a star, said other teams kept hearing his name discussed his entire high school career.
“I just kept hearing his name. Then I watched his state game, and I was just like, ‘This kid can ball.’ Next thing you know this kid is on my team, on the same team. It’s crazy.”
He signed with Texas A&M and split time there as true freshman, starting three games. But his passing wasn’t up to what Oklahoma’s standards are(72 of 121 for 686 yards, five TDs and seven interceptions). His best game was against South Carolina, where he ran for 156 yards.
After his transfer to OU, he sat out the 2016 season. Last year he backed up Baker Mayfield, so, understandably, did not get much playing time. His stats are skewed by a 66-yard run on his first play as a starter against West Virginia (when Mayfield was benched for a series for his ugly sideline gestures during a chippy game at Kansas). Murray has averaged 10 yards per carry. Three of his 17 passes last year were for touchdowns. He has not turned over the ball.
All that said, it is the fact he was drafted ninth the Oakland A’s and has a $4.66 million contract to play major league baseball when he hangs up college football which is the conversation starter about Murray. Murray started for the Sooners baseball team in the spring.
Could he become the first two pro-sport athlete since Bo Jackson and Deion Sanders moonlighted as baseball players?
Some teammates have compared Murray to Michael Vick, given his athleticism.
And while Murray’s obvious strength is running the ball, Riley says he would not have been named starter without passing skills.
“We certainly wouldn’t have named him the starter without that,” Riley said this week.
After Murray signed with Oakland, it has become a foregone conclusion that he will play but one year at Oklahoma.
Still, that may be up in the air. Riley told reporters this week he “can’t clarify” whether Murray will play one or two years of his remaining eligibility.
Regardless, we know this Saturday a new era at quarterback begins for the Sooners. Even if that era lasts only one season.
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