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Former Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Baker Mayfield took home plenty of hardware before being selected No. 1 overall by the Cleveland Browns in the 2018 NFL Draft, but he added one final collegiate honor Wednesday night at The ESPY Awards. Mayfield was named Best College Athlete, coming in ahead of Jalen Brunson (Villanova men’s basketball), Katie Ledecky (Stanford swimming), A’ja Wilson (South Carolina women’s basketball).
"To all the kids out there, if you have a dream, go chase it."@bakermayfield #ESPYS Best College Athlete #OUDNA pic.twitter.com/i7piC0NdS3
— Oklahoma Football (@OU_Football) July 19, 2018
Mayfield took home the Heisman Trophy, Maxwell Award, Davey O’Brien Award, Manning Award, Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award, Walter Camp Player of the Year Award, AP Player of the Year and Sporting News Player of the Year in addition to being a Unanimous All-American in 2017. I’m not sure where an ESPY Award ranks on that list, but it’s probably up there pretty high due to the fact that it’s an honor that encompasses all sports. Beating out a five-time Olympic gold medalist in Katie Ledecky has to count for something, right?
Anyway, congrats to you, Baker Mayfield, and thanks for giving OU one more W!
However, the far more important honor will be handed out later this evening when OU’s Maggie Nichols and other gymnasts accept the Arthur Ashe Courage Award. Stay tuned for that.