Stormin in Norman
Fansided

Oklahoma football: Ranking every Sooners’ starting QB since 1999

By Aaron Gelvin

NORMAN, OK - NOVEMBER 23: A Ruf/Nek parades the Oklahoma Sooners flag around the field after a touchdown against the TCU Horned Frogs on November 23, 2019 at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma. OU held on to win 28-24. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
NORMAN, OK - NOVEMBER 23: A Ruf/Nek parades the Oklahoma Sooners flag around the field after a touchdown against the TCU Horned Frogs on November 23, 2019 at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma. OU held on to win 28-24. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) /
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DALLAS, TX – OCTOBER 06: Kyler Murray #1 of the Oklahoma Sooners runs for a touchdown against the Texas Longhorns in the fourth quarter of the 2018 AT&T Red River Showdown at Cotton Bowl on October 6, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX – OCTOBER 06: Kyler Murray #1 of the Oklahoma Sooners runs for a touchdown against the Texas Longhorns in the fourth quarter of the 2018 AT&T Red River Showdown at Cotton Bowl on October 6, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

No. 2 — Kyler Murray

One start in 2017, 13 Starts in 2018

A decade after Sam Bradford took home the Heisman, Kyler Murray did the same in 2018. That year earns him the bridesmaid spot on this list. Murray was one of the best high school quarterbacks ever at Allen High School in Texas. He signed with Texas A&M as a part of its 2015 class but transferred to OU after playing in just a few games for the Aggies his freshman season.

Murray redshirted in 2016, and was the backup in 2017, before being named the starter prior to the 2018 season. All he did that year was throw for over 4,300 yards with 42 touchdowns and add  12 rushing TDs with just over 1,000 yards rushing. He won the Heisman over Tua Tagovailoa and Dwayne Haskins.

Murray combined ridiculous speed with incredible elusiveness to make him one of the most dynamic quarterbacks college football has ever seen. His shiftiness in the pocket and arm talent made him a threat on multiple fronts, as teams dared him the beat them with his arm (spoiler alert: he did.) His weapons included Marquise Brown, CeeDee Lamb, Grant Calcaterra, Trey Sermon and Kennedy Brooks. The 2018 Sooners boasted an offense that could score from far, and Murray’s legs and arm played a big part in that.

The Sooners went to the College Football Playoff that season, winning the Big 12 Championship game over Texas, before losing in the CFP semifinal against Alabama in the Orange Bowl. That game was over after the first quarter as the Bama defense swallowed up Murray from the opening possession.

Nonetheless, the diminutive Murray left his stamp on the program in just a year, with one of the most dynamic seasons from a QB in OU history. Murray was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals, and he enters his fourth season with the team, after guiding them to the playoffs in 2021.

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