Nov 8, 2014; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Trevor Knight (9) throws a pass against the Baylor Bears during the first half at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Quarterback
Going into training camp, the Sooner coaches were still holding open competition for the starting role. Head coach Bob Stoops said he will not declare a starting QB until right before the season starts, although popular opinion seems to weigh in favor of Texas Tech transfer Baker Mayfield. Offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley says both Mayfield and Trevor Knight have looked good in the new Air Raid offense, and he also likes the progress that sophomore Cody Thomas has made. Thomas started at quarterback for the Sooners in their final three games of the regular season in place of Knight, who suffered a neck injury in the Baylor game.
Mayfield played in the new offense when he was a starter as a walk-on freshman at Texas Tech and led the Red Raiders to seven straight victories to open the 2013 season before suffering a loss at Oklahoma. Knight is more of a dual-threat quarterback who has shown greater consistency making plays with his legs than his throwing arm, with the one giant exception of the 2014 OU Sugar Bowl win over Alabama, in which Knight completed nearly 75 percent of his passes, threw for over 300 yards and four touchdowns. Unfortunately, he hasn’t a game like that since.
It would not be a total surprise to see both quarterbacks in the season-opener against Akron, but eventually Stoops, Riley & Co. will need to settle on one primary QB to sustain offensive consistency and chemistry. Grade: B
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