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Big 12 Football: 50 best players of all-time

By Randy Gurzi

COLUMBIA, MO - OCTOBER 1: Vince Young #10 of the Texas Longhorns in action against the Missouri Tigers at Memorial Stadium/Faurot Field on October 1, 2005 in Columbia, Missouri. Texas defeated Missouri 51-20. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
COLUMBIA, MO - OCTOBER 1: Vince Young #10 of the Texas Longhorns in action against the Missouri Tigers at Memorial Stadium/Faurot Field on October 1, 2005 in Columbia, Missouri. Texas defeated Missouri 51-20. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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Kyler Murray, Oklahoma football
Kyler Murray, Oklahoma football (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

815. . QB. Sooners . Kyler Murray. 16. player

Big 12 Football best players of all-time: 16. Kyler Murray, QB, Oklahoma football

Following in the footsteps of a No. 1 overall pick is never an easy thing to do, but Kyler Murray did so and made everyone question why he was on the bench at all. Of course, he was there because Baker Mayfield — the 2017 Heisman Trophy winner — was ahead of him, but all Murray did was win the trophy himself in 2018 and become the No. 1 pick the following season.

It’s not often a team can boast back-to-back No. 1 picks in the NFL Draft, especially when they both play under center. But Murray proved to be worth following in the steps of Baker.

A transfer from Texas A&M, Murray sat out the 2016 season due to an archaic NCAA rule and then threw just 21 passes while backing up Mayfield in 2017. He completed 18 those passes for 359 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for another 142 yards.

Then, when he took over, Murray completed 69 percent of his passes for 4,361 yards with a 42-to-7 touchdown-to-interception ratio. If that wasn’t enough, he added 1,001 yards and 12 touchdowns on the ground.

Still, he was questioned at nausea entering the NFL since he’s listed at just 5-foot-10. There were those who thought he would forgo the NFL altogether and play Major League Baseball, and the two-sport star had an offer to play for the Oakland Athletics. In the end, he committed to football and is continuing his pro career after an exciting, albeit short, stint in the NCAA.

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