Oklahoma Sooners Football: Reports - Alabama grad transfer QB Jalen Hurts visits Oklahoma

According to multiple reports from the Athletic’s Jason Kersey, Sooner Scoop and others, former Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts has been in Norman and on campus visiting the University of Oklahoma.

Hurts, a Houston native, is a grad transfer prospect looking for a situation in which he could feasibly land a starting job. With QBs Kyler Murray and possibly Austin Kendall both removed from the equation in 2019, there would be an attractive opportunity for a player like Hurts to come in and grab the top spot.

Obviously, the Oklahoma Sooners have made a living off of transfer QBs over the past four seasons, but bringing in Hurts would be an entirely unique situation from both the Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray transfers. For one, Hurts would be a graduate transfer upon arrival, not an underclassmen, therefore he would not have to sit for a year. Another reason that would make this situation much different would be the possible state of the QB position at Oklahoma. Even if Kendall decides to stay in Norman, the Sooners would not have a passer on the roster with a significant number of meaningful game reps. If you recall, Mayfield competed and ultimately won the job over veteran Trevor Knight, then Murray sat for a year and then backed up Mayfield until he was finally granted his chance.

In three seasons with the Crimson Tide, Hurts accumulated 5,262 passing yards, 1,976 rushing yards and 71 total touchdowns. He led Alabama to back-to-back national championship berths in 2016 and 2017, but ultimately lost his job to Heisman Trophy finalist Tua Tagovailoa in the national championship vs. Georgia. Even in a backup role in 2018, Hurts saw quite a bit of playing time in the second half of most games, including a great comeback against the Dawgs last month in Atlanta.

If Jalen Hurts picks Oklahoma as the place to play his final season of college football, the Sooners would have the luxury of having an extremely experienced player to call upon in 2019. Simply put, landing Hurts would be quite the coup for Lincoln Riley going into his third year as head coach.

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