Oklahoma Football: Jalen Hurts on campus, eyeing transfer

TUSCALOOSA, AL - SEPTEMBER 08: Jalen Hurts #2 of the Alabama Crimson Tide runs the offense against the Arkansas State Red Wolves at Bryant-Denny Stadium on September 8, 2018 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
TUSCALOOSA, AL - SEPTEMBER 08: Jalen Hurts #2 of the Alabama Crimson Tide runs the offense against the Arkansas State Red Wolves at Bryant-Denny Stadium on September 8, 2018 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Oklahoma football has turned into a quarterback factory under Lincoln Riley. Could former Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts be next?

Baker Mayfield gave way to Kyler Murray and Kyler Murray gave way to … who? That’s the question Lincoln Riley and the rest of the Oklahoma football staff have been tasked with answering this offseason.

For now, the apparent answer seems to be Spencer Rattler, the Sooners’ 5-star quarterback recruit who signed with Oklahoma during the early signing period. He’s the only heralded quarterback staying on campus — former 4-star quarterback Austin Kendall has placed his name in the NCAA Transfer Portal. But Rattler is just a freshman and the Sooners have been reportedly entertaining a few more experienced arms.

Justin Fields, before announcing his transfer to Ohio State, had looked at moving west from Georgia to Oklahoma. With Fields off the board, Riley and Co. have brought former Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts up to Norman for a visit.

The experience Hurts brings is undeniable. He’s played his way to the National Championship Game, engineered a second half comeback against an elite Georgia team and accrued a 26-2 record as a collegiate starter. He was supplanted by freshman phenom Tua Tagovailoa — to be fair, most quarterbacks would have lost their jobs to the Hawaiian signal caller, too.

Hurts has time to make his decision. Oklahoma won’t be left in ruins if he opts to look elsewhere, but bringing in a player of his caliber would immediately solidify the Sooners as College Football Playoff contenders yet again. At the rate Riley has turned great quarterbacks into Heisman Trophy winners, Hurts might not be able to find many options more attractive than OU.