NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — Jalen Hurts’ rise to the beginning quarterback place at Oklahoma wasn’t a foregone conclusion, regardless of his wealth of championship expertise at Alabama.
Oklahoma coach Lincoln Riley took his time earlier than naming Hurts the starter for the fourth-ranked Sooners’ Sept. 1 season opener in opposition to Houston. Although Hurts performed in three nationwide championship video games for Alabama and helped the Crimson Tide win the 2017 nationwide title, Riley mentioned he needed to see how Hurts would regulate to a brand new system after he transferred to Oklahoma in January .
Hurts barely gained the job over redshirt freshman Tanner Mordecai and true freshman Spencer Rattler. Hurts did not clinch the job till Riley reviewed a current scrimmage. Riley spent two years as Oklahoma’s offensive coordinator and is getting into his third because the Sooners’ head coach, but this might need been his hardest name.
”I simply thought he was simply barely higher right here because it went on, and it was barely,” Riley mentioned. ”Most likely the closest one (quarterback race) that we have had since I have been at Oklahoma.”
Hurts began the 2016 and 2017 seasons and led Alabama to a 26-2 file. He misplaced the beginning job to Tua Tagovailoa in 2018 however nonetheless performed in 13 video games. He changed the injured Tagovailoa within the fourth quarter of the 2018 SEC championship sport and rallied the Crimson Tide to a 35-28 win over Georgia.
Hurts has the numbers to go together with the wins. He owns the Alabama quarterback profession file with 23 speeding touchdowns and ranks second in class historical past amongst quarterbacks with 1,976 profession speeding yards and 71 touchdowns accountable for. He gained 7,602 yards of whole offense and threw for 48 touchdowns, each third in Alabama historical past.
Riley mentioned Hurts’ expertise did not issue into his determination, however it could have helped him when issues received powerful throughout camp.
”Simply the general really feel of the way it progressed,” Riley mentioned. ”Actually, all three of them had days the place they have been the very best quarterback. Jalen simply had a number of extra. His down days the place perhaps he wasn’t his greatest have been higher than the opposite two proper now at this level.”
Hurts will now observe back-to-back Heisman Trophy winners Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray. Hurts has mentioned that was by no means a priority for him.
”I’ve had the identical method since I received right here – to be the very best quarterback I may be,” Hurts mentioned earlier within the month. ”All that different stuff is what y’all wish to discuss.”
Riley mentioned the long run appears vibrant with Mordecai and Rattler. Mordecai, the No. 2 quarterback, was rated a four-star recruit by ESPN and a three-star prospect by 247Sports activities and Rivals. Rattler, a real freshman, is the No. three quarterback. He was the consensus No. 1 quarterback within the 2019 recruiting class. He handed for an Arizona state file 11,083 yards and ran for greater than 1,000 throughout his prep profession.
”Tanner Mordecai did an outstanding job,” Riley mentioned. ”Made loads of massive performs throughout camp. Spencer Rattler confirmed management and playmaking skill that is fairly uncommon for somebody his age.”