Conference media days are here, and that means the start of the college football season is near. The Big 12, AAC, and SEC got their media days started on Monday, and the big story was Lincoln Riley’s statement that Alabama transfer quarterback Jalen Hurts had yet to win the starting job. While it’s widely assumed that Hurts will eventually be named the starter, Riley is not ready to tip his hand just yet.
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Quarterbacks across the country would jump at the chance to be the starter in Norman. Riley has coached the last two Heisman Trophy winners (Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray), and under his tutelage both players were also No. 1 overall draft picks.
Oklahoma does have two highly-rated freshman quarterbacks waiting in the wings. Tanner Mordecai is a four-star dual-threat quarterback that redshirted last year, and Spencer Rattler is a five-star true freshman that 247 Sports named the top pro-style prospect in the Class of 2019.
Hurts was the starter in the spring game, and he did light it up. He went 11-14 for 174 yards and a touchdown while running for another score, but both Mordecai and Rattler have been developing nicely and do have the advantage of youth. Hurts came to Norman as a graduate transfer so he didn’t have to sit out a year, but this is his last year of eligibility.
That being said, there’s probably a 98 percent chance that Hurts will be the starter in the season opener against Houston. Riley is very aware of young quarterbacks’ proclivity to transfer if they aren’t immediately the man, and in addition to fostering competition he is likely doing this to try to ensure that both Mordecai and Rattler stay in the fold.
Jalen Hurts was 26-2 as the starter at the University of Alabama before giving way to Tua Tagovailoa last season. During his time in Tuscaloosa, Hurts threw for over 5,600 yards and tossed 48 touchdowns compared to just 12 interceptions. He displayed his mobility as well by running for nearly 2,000 yards and 23 touchdowns in 42 games.
H/T The Athletic
