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Oklahoma football: Jalen Hurts enrolled and ready to roll in OU crimson

By Chip Rouse

MIAMI, FL - DECEMBER 29: Kyler Murray #1 of the Oklahoma Sooners congratulates Jalen Hurts #2 of the Alabama Crimson Tide after Alabama Crimson Tide defeat the Oklahoma Sooners 45-34 to win the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Capital One Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium on December 29, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - DECEMBER 29: Kyler Murray #1 of the Oklahoma Sooners congratulates Jalen Hurts #2 of the Alabama Crimson Tide after Alabama Crimson Tide defeat the Oklahoma Sooners 45-34 to win the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Capital One Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium on December 29, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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Jalen Hurts has traded one crimson jersey for another. This week he officially became a Sooner and is ready to quarterback the 2019 edition of Oklahoma football.

The former Alabama quarterback has signed his financial aid agreement and is enrolled at the University of Oklahoma, according to published reports. Hurts’ widely covered journey through the now-infamous NCAA transfer portal landed him at OU for his final season of college eligibility.

Hurts completed his degree in communications in three seasons while at Alabama. As a graduate transfer, he will be able to play immediately at Oklahoma.

In 28 starts at quarterback for Alabama in the 2016 and 2017 seasons, Hurts led the Crimson Tide to a 26-2 record. He also played in 13 games this past season as the backup to Tua Tagovailoa, the Heisman runner-up. In Hurts’ three seasons in Tuscaloosa, Alabama was a combined 41-3, including a national championship (2017).

At the Orange Bowl, I was fully invested in beating OU and getting to the national championship. But now I’m part of the Sooner family, and I’m thankful to be here.” — Former Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts on transferring to Oklahoma

“(Jalen) has the ability to be a really good leader for us,” said head coach Lincoln Riley in a press release posted on the OU athletic department website.

“He’s got to get in here and learn this team, learn this offense,” Riley continued. “There are a lot of steps ahead, but there’s no doubt this guy’s been in some of the biggest and best games in college football over the last few years.”

That includes three College Football Playoff national championship games.

Asked what made him choose OU, Hurts said:

"“There’s a great foundation here at Oklahoma, and Coach Riley does a great job. He’s very efficient in what he does. And for my last ride, my senior year, I want to be part of it.“Last year, I was fully invested in the University of Alabama. And at the Orange Bowl, I was fully invested in beating OU and getting to the national championship. But now I’m part of the Sooner family, and I’m thankful to be here…And I want to go out with a bang.”"

I’m sure knowing that Oklahoma has produced the last two Heisman Trophy winners and four in the past 15 years, all quarterbacks, and is again expected to have one of the top offenses in college football also went a long way toward influencing Hurts’ decision to come to OU.

Hurts was ranked by 247Sports as the country’s No. 1 dual-threat quarterback when he signed with Alabama as a member of  the 2016 recruiting class. Spencer Rattler, who is expected to backup Hurts and learn from the former Alabama signal caller in the 2019 season, was the nation’s top dual-threat QB prospect in the 2019 national recruiting class.

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