Sooners claim 7th Heisman

 

By Michael Kinney

When Baker Mayfield was drafted with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 draft, all Oklahoma fans knew they were losing a great player. Most thought it would take years before they found someone who could produce like him.

In actuality, they didn’t have to wait too long or look too far. He was waiting in the same quarterback room behind Mayfield.

Kyler Murray was named the 2018 Heisman Trophy winner Saturday. It was one year after Mayfield took home the same prize as the top player in college football.

“This is crazy,” Murray said during his speech Saturday. “This is an honor. Something that I’ll never forget, something I’ll always treasure for the rest of my life.”

Murray is the seventh Sooner to win the Heisman and the fourth quarterback since 2003. OU is now tied for the lead with Notre Dame and Ohio State for the most Heisman Trophies.

The voting was one of the closest in recent history. Murray tallied 517 first-place votes and 2,167 points. Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa (1,871 points, 299 first-place votes) and Ohio State’s Dwayne Haskins (873 and 46) followed.

The Sooners are the first school to have back to back Heisman trophy winners at the same position since Army in 1945-46 with tailbacks Felix “Doc” Blanchard and Glenn Davis.

While many in the SEC and Big 10 were not happy with Murray’s selection, his numbers are undeniable. He completed 241 of 340 passes this year for 4,053 yards and 40 touchdowns to seven interceptions. He has also rushed for 892 yards and another 11 scores.

With at least one game left in the season, Murray needs 108 rushing yards to become just the second player in FBS history to throw for at least 4,000 and run for at least 1,000 in a season.

All-American Status

Murray was named to the AP All-American first team Monday, but he was not alone. Wide receiver Marquise Brown also earned a nod on the first team.

Before being injured late in the Big 12 Championship, Brown had put together an impressive second season at Oklahoma. He has racked up 75 catches for 1,318 yards 10 touchdowns. His average of 17.6 yards per catch and 101.4 yards per game were both near the top in the FBS.

Joining Murray and Brown as All-American’s are left guard Dru Samai, who made the second team, and tackle Cody Ford, who landed on the third team. The two linemen are part of an OU group that is a finalist for the Joe Moore Award which goes to the best offensive line in the nation.

Of the team playing in the College Football Playoffs, Alabama led the way with six all-Americans. That includes four on the first team.

Oklahoma and Alabama will face off Nov. 29^th at the Orange Bowl in the CFP semifinals.

Michael Kinney is a Freelance Content Producer