One of the biggest offseason questions facing Oklahoma football entering the 2018 season was replacing a Heisman-winning quarterback who brought major leadership, not to mention off-the-charts productivity.
Three games do not make a season, but anyone still doubting the Sooners’ ability to regroup and continue to perform at a high level following the departure of Baker Mayfield, college-football’s most outstanding quarterback last season and the No. 1 overall player taken in the 2018 NFL Draft, can take a deep breath and relax, knowing that the sky is not falling and everything is A.O.K. in Norman, Oklahoma.
Through the first three games of the 2018 college season, OU dual-sport star Kyler Murray has more than lived up to the high expectations that accompanied him to Oklahoma when he decided to transfer from Texas A&M after his freshman season in 2015.
Murray’s passing numbers after three games are not only impressive, but remarkably close to Mayfield’s at the same point last season. The question with Murray, who also happens to be an outstanding baseball player (he signed a $4.6 million , was never about his athleticism or quickness or his ability to throw the football, but rather his passing accuracy.
In Oklahoma’s three consecutive victories to open the season, the former Gatorade National High School Player of the Year not only has been highly productive in the passing game, but has done so with great proficiency, as well.
Murray has thrown for over 300 yards in each of the last two games and completed 9 of 11 for 209 yards in just one half of action in the Sooners’ season-opening win over Florida Atlantic. His passing stat line for the first three weeks of the season reads: 49 of 73 (67.1 completion percentage) for 863 yards and eight touchdowns, with one interception.
Over the same time period a year ago, Mayfield had completed 63 of 82 passes (76.8 completion percentage) for 1,046 yards and 11 touchdowns with no interceptions.
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In terms of total yards of offense accounted for through the first three games, Mayfield’s total a year ago was 1,033 yards. Murray has accounted for 1,032 yards of offense through the Sooners’ first three games this season. Murray’s speed and elusiveness makes him a dangerous dual threat. He needs to be accounted for, not only as a passer but also his ability to run and gain yards with his legs.
In comparing Murray’s three-game start this season to another Heisman-winning OU quarterback, Sam Bradford’s numbers after three starts in his Heisman season, in 2008, read like this: 59 of 74 (79.7 completion percentage), for 823 yards, 11 touchdowns and no interceptions.
Murray is one of just four quarterbacks nationwide this season who average at least 200 yards passing and 50 yards rushing per game.
Mayfield may be the best passing quarterback in the history of Oklahoma football in terms of his strong arm, his ability to make every kind of throw and his incredible accuracy in doing so. Murray brings a different, but equally dangerous skill set to the quarterback position.
It’s pick your poison with Murray. He has become a very good passer (his current numbers bear that out), but defenses can’t afford to ignore his ability and speed in the run-pass-option game, because he can beat you both passing the football or tucking it and taking off on the run.
Through three games, Murray leads the Sooners in rushing with 169 yards in 25 attempts, an average of 5.8 yards every time he carries the ball.
Head coach Lincoln Riley has acknowledged in his past two weekly press conferences that he likes what he is seeing from Murray, citing his poise, his ability to play within himself and the fact that he is making good decisions with the ball. As far as when he should slide or not when he runs with the football, Riley said: “I trust him to make the right decision (given the situation).”
There is no question that Oklahoma’s success this season will be largely attributed to Murray’s ability to remain healthy and how well he continues to perform over the balance of the season. Not at all different from the way it was with Mayfield last season.
All things being equal, it could very well result in an unprecedented fourth consecutive Big 12 crown for the Sooners.