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Jalen Hurts primed to be Lincoln Riley’s next Heisman Trophy winner

By John Mitchell

MIAMI, FL - DECEMBER 29: Kyler Murray #1 of the Oklahoma Sooners congratulates Jalen Hurts #2 of the Alabama Crimson Tide after Alabama Crimson Tide defeat the Oklahoma Sooners 45-34 to win the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Capital One Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium on December 29, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - DECEMBER 29: Kyler Murray #1 of the Oklahoma Sooners congratulates Jalen Hurts #2 of the Alabama Crimson Tide after Alabama Crimson Tide defeat the Oklahoma Sooners 45-34 to win the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Capital One Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium on December 29, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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5. Hurts arrives at OU more polished than Mayfield, Murray

There have been plenty of detractors about Hurts’ abilities as a passer ever since he busted onto the scene as a true freshman at Alabama in 2016. Admittedly, Hurts didn’t progress much as a passer from his freshman to sophomore season, sometimes frustratingly relying on his feet to make plays when the first-read was taken away.

But Hurts is far more polished and decorated coming to Norman than either Baker Mayfield or Kyler Murray were.

Mayfield was a former walk-on at Texas Tech, and while he flashed promise in the eight games he played for the Red Raiders, no one expected that he would develop into a Heisman Trophy winner and future No. 1 overall pick under Lincoln Riley.

Kyler Murray’s case is a bit different as he was more heralded coming out of high school than either Mayfield or Hurts. He was a five-star coming out of Allen, Texas and was ranked as the No. 1 dual-threat QB in the 2015 recruiting class, per the 247 composites.

Murray went to Texas A&M where he played some as a freshman, ultimately deciding to leave after being benched late in the season. Murray threw seven interceptions in the eight games he played in for the Aggies, and completed under 60% of his passes.

Compare that with freshman Jalen Hurts at Alabama, where he completed 63 percent of his throws for 23 touchdowns and nine interceptions over 15 games. Hurts added 955 yards on the ground and won the SEC’s offensive player of the year award. He led Alabama to an undefeated regular season, SEC Championship, Peach Bowl win over Washington, and within one-second of the National Championship.

His sophomore season was a little disappointing, but he threw only a single interception in 14 games and led the Crimson Tide back to the National Championship Game.

He leaves Alabama as No. 2 in total touchdowns in Crimson Tide history, and No. 3 in both passing touchdowns and offensive yardage.

If Riley was able to mold Mayfield and Murray into what they became in Norman, what will Jalen Hurts look like when he reaches his final form for the Sooners?

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