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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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(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

3. Oklahoma will surround Hurts with a lot of talent

Oklahoma will have some key pieces to replace, particularly on the offensive line, but that doesn’t mean the cupboards are bare in Norman.

The Sooners are losing four starters on an offensive line that won the Joe Moore Award, and along with Heisman winner Kyler Murray, leading receiver Marquise Brown declared for the NFL Draft. Even with those losses, there’s a ton of talent returning that will be at Hurts’ disposal.

Rising junior CeeDee Lamb will take the featured role after an 1100 yard sophomore season. Hurts saw Lamb’s ability front-and-center in the Orange Bowl with Lamb gouging the Alabama secondary for 109 yards and a touchdown on eight catches.

Rising senior Lee Morris and rising sophomore Charleston Rambo are set for expanded roles, and tight end Grant Calcaterra is a tough matchup over-the-middle.

There’s also help on the way in the form of the Big 12’s best recruiting class with the nation’s No. 1 WR, five-star Jadon Haselwood, signing with the Sooners during the early signing period.

Perhaps the most intriguing returning talent for the Sooners, particularly with the addition of Hurts, is a loaded backfield. Most people associate the Big 12 with wide-open passing attacks, and while Oklahoma boasted one of the nation’s most lethal aerial assaults, they balanced that with a lethal running game. The Sooners finished the 2018 season ranked 11th in the nation in rushing offense.

Rising sophomore Kennedy Brooks topped 1000 yards last season, and rising junior Trey Sermon fell 53 yards shy of doing the same.

On the other side of the ball, Oklahoma returns 10 starters on a defense that struggled for most of the 2018 season, but did come up with plays several times when they needed to the most. Riley made a terrific hire this offseason by nabbing Alex Grinch from Ohio State to run his defense. Grinch is a well regarded young coach who could elevate the play of the Sooners’ defense enough that Oklahoma could be even better next season.

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