Former Oklahoma quarterbacks named MVP of Senior Bowl and Pro Bowl

The weekend before the Super Bowl has traditionally been reserved for the best players in the NFL to get together for the Pro Bowl, and for the most avid football fans to finally get together with their families. However, as the quality of play in the Pro Bowl has fallen off and interest in the NFL draft has increased, the Senior Bowl has arisen as a tentpole event for the league. 

This weekend featured both, the Senior Bowl game on Saturday, the culmination of a five-day event in Mobile Alabama for draft-eligible seniors (and now juniors), and the Pro Bowl flag football game on Sunday in Orlando. Both were headlined by former Oklahoma quarterbacks who played for Lincoln Riley in Norman. 

First, on Saturday, Spencer Rattler, former No. 1 quarterback recruit who was replaced by Caleb Williams as Oklahoma’s starter in 2021 and transferred to South Carolina for his final two years of eligibility, was named the Senior Bowl MVP. Rattler’s draft stock is rising after his week in Mobile and as the culmination, he went 4-for-4 passing for 65 yards and a touchdown, highlighted by his 29-yard touchdown pass for Georgia’s Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint. 

Rattler is still not likely to be selected higher than the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft, but compared to where he was after his three years at Oklahoma, the third round would be a huge improvement. He was once thought of as a future No. 1 overall pick, and it was a former No. 1 overall selection who stole the show in Orlando on Sunday. 

After four years in Cleveland, the Browns moved on from Baker Mayfield to Deshaun Watson, so in 2022, Mayfield bounced around the league. Finally, in 2023 he settled in Tampa Bay and ended his season with a playoff victory and his first career Pro Bowl appearance. 

Mayfield was awarded the MVP of the Pro Bowl, not just for his performance in the flag football portion, but his win over CJ Stroud in the precision passing competition. The AFC actually won the flag football game, but the NFC won the Pro Bowl 64-59 because of points in the skills competitions. 

For Sooners fans, the best moment came when Mayfield connected with former Oklahoma teammate Ceedee Lamb for a touchdown.

Lamb caught seven touchdowns from Mayfield in 2017 at Oklahoma.