Stormin in Norman
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Oklahoma football: Sooners’ Top 5 NFL draft classes since 2000

By John Makuch

PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 01: Quarterback Baker Mayfield #6 of the Oklahoma Sooners looks on in the first half against the Georgia Bulldogs in the 2018 College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual at the Rose Bowl on January 1, 2018 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 01: Quarterback Baker Mayfield #6 of the Oklahoma Sooners looks on in the first half against the Georgia Bulldogs in the 2018 College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual at the Rose Bowl on January 1, 2018 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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Dec 29, 2018; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Kyler Murray (1) scrambles in the 2018 Orange Bowl college football playoff semifinal game against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 29, 2018; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Kyler Murray (1) scrambles in the 2018 Orange Bowl college football playoff semifinal game against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports /

2. 2019  NFL Draft

This Oklahoma NFL Draft class is the most extensive of the list, with eight former Sooners selected.

It began with one-year college starter Kyler Murray, who only took one season to bring back a Heisman Trophy to Norman. With Baker Mayfield winning the Heisman in 2018, Murray made Oklahoma the first program to have back-to-back Heisman winners from the same school and at the same position in the history of college football.

Murray finished his 2018 season at Oklahoma with 4,361 passing yards, 42 touchdowns and seven interceptions along with1,001 yards rushing and 12 rushing touchdowns. Murray led the Sooners to their second consecutive Playoff appearance.

Murray was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals with the first overall pick in the 2019 Draft, That same year, the Oakland Athletics drafted Murray eighth overall in the MLB Draft, but he chose professional football as his career choice.

The former Heisman winner became the first person to be drafted in the first round of the both the NFL and MLB Drafts.

Murray joined a young Cardinals team that is steadily improving, and with an improved defense and offensive line, the sky is the limit for Arizona with Murray leading the charge.

Twenty-four picks after Murray, was one of his favorite targets, Marquise “Hollywood” Brown got the call. The Baltimore Ravens took Brown with the 25th overall selection, and he has proven to be a much-needed weapon for quarterback Lamar Jackson, who would win the MVP award in the 2019 season.

Four Oklahoma offensive linemen, part of an O-line that won the Joe Moore Award as the best in college football in 2019, were selected in this draft. Cody Ford, Bobby Evans, Dru Samia, and Ben Powers were taken in that order and have all made starts for their teams.

Ford has been a solid player for the Buffalo Bills and appeared in their playoff games this past season. The other three have been depth pieces for their respective teams and have made a few starts as young and developing linemen.

Austin Seibert has the most career points (499) by a kicker in FBS history.

The former Sooner all-purpose kicker was drafted in the 6th round by the Cleveland Browns but this season signed with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Running back Rodney Anderson was taken in the sixth round by Cincinnati after a season in which he tore his ACL. Anderson unfortunately tore his ACL again in the Bengals last preseason game in 2019 and has yet to make an appearance in a regular-season game. He is currently a free agent and time will tell if he can catch on somewhere and stay healthy.

While some players in this class are still looking to find starts in the NFL, most of the class have already proven themselves as worthy of playing at the next level.

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