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Oklahoma Spring Game 2016 – What To Look For

By Sixto Ortiz

Nov 21, 2015; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners players run onto the field before the game against the TCU Horned Frogs at Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 21, 2015; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners players run onto the field before the game against the TCU Horned Frogs at Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 14, 2015; Waco, TX, USA; Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) drops back to pass against the Baylor Bears during the first half at McLane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 14, 2015; Waco, TX, USA; Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) drops back to pass against the Baylor Bears during the first half at McLane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

Quarterback Play: Is Depth Behind Mayfield a Concern?

After a sizzling 2015 campaign where he threw for 37 TDs and over 3,700 yards, Baker Mayfield enters the 2016 season as the entrenched starter, no questions asked.

However, after Mayfield things get a bit dicier on the depth chart. Both Trevor Knight and Cody Thomas have left the program, so this Sooner squad is thin at quarterback behind Mayfield; a Mayfied injury, not an out-of-the-question prospect considering his concussion history and his aggressive style of play, could prove catastrophic for the Sooners.

One of the biggest coups for Oklahoma in recent memory was the transfer into the program of former Texas A&M Aggie and celebrated five-star high school quarterback superstar Kyler Murray.

Even though his stats as an Aggie were decidedly pedestrian (five TDs, seven INTs and 686 yards passing), Murray oozes potential and could blossom into something special with the right tutelage. But, due to NCAA transfer rules, Murray cannot play during the 2016 season, so he cannot be pressed into service if Mayfield is unable to perform.

So the spring game will only serve to whet Sooner fans’ appetites for what might be in 2017 should Murray gain the starting job then.

Sooner fans tuned to and/or in attendance at the spring game should pay close attention to freshman Austin Kendall, a four-star recruit from Waxhaw, N.C. Kendall is a 6-2, 210-pound pro-style quarterback who has  great potential and will push Murray for the starting job in 2017.

More importantly, Kendall’s performance during the spring game will speak volumes about his understanding of offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley’s attack and the young signal-caller’s overall progress transitioning to the college game. If Kendall struggles, that may be a bad omen for the Sooners, who will need to try their hardest to keep Mayfield healthy if they hope to have a successful 2016 campaign.

Next: Will the Young Wide Receivers Blossom?

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