Stormin in Norman
Fansided

Oklahoma football: Offensive keys for the OU spring game

By Christopher Dukes

ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 01: Jalen Hurts #2 of the Alabama Crimson Tide gestures at the line of scrimmage in the fourth quarter against the Georgia Bulldogs during the 2018 SEC Championship Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 1, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 01: Jalen Hurts #2 of the Alabama Crimson Tide gestures at the line of scrimmage in the fourth quarter against the Georgia Bulldogs during the 2018 SEC Championship Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 1, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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The quarterbacks

No, we didn’t forget the biggest story looming around campus in Norman this spring. We all get to see the first appearance of Jalen Hurts at Owen Field together on Friday night. Anyone who saw Kyler Murray‘s performance in last year’s spring game will tell you that it’s hard to translate much from what happens in April to what we can expect in the fall when it comes to quarterbacks, but it’s still a chance to see how comfortable Hurts is in the offense.

How is his chemistry with the receivers? Can he find his timing and make the reads he needs in this offense? There are likely to be some struggles, but his will at least be a teaser preview for what’s to come from the guy who led Alabama to back-to-back national title game appearances.

On the other hand, we have Tanner Mordecai. The redshirt freshman hasn’t been seen on the field since the Sooners’ season opener against Florida Atlantic last August. How has a full year in the Riley system under the wing of guys like Kyler Murray and Austin Kendall seasoned the Waco, Texas product?

Riley has stated repteatedly in the press that the competition for the quarterback job is wide open, but most expect Hurts to be the guy come the fall. Still, even if that is the case it’s Mordecai who sets the floor for what we can expect from an Oklahoma quarterback this year. The higher his level of play the harder Hurts will have to work to take the job away from him.

Even if he doesn’t win the starting job this year over the experienced Hurts, Mordecai is obviously already auditioning for the No. 1 role in 2020 against Spencer Rattler. Rattler will arrive in the summer with plenty of hype and fanfare as the No. 1 quarterback in the 2020 class according to Rivals.com and Mordecai’s performance Friday night could give him an early edge in what could be an epic future battle between two blue chippers.

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