Oklahoma player’s initial impression of Jalen Hurts? ‘He picks up where the rest of the Heismans left off’
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Jalen Hurts is back on the practice field in anticipation for the 2019 season but for the first time in his collegiate career, the quarterback isn’t wearing an Alabama jersey.
After transferring to Oklahoma this offseason as a graduate transfer, the former Crimson Tide signal caller now suits up for the Sooners. Spring practice started up this week in Norman, and the star of the first day back at practice is the program’s new face under center. With Kyler Murray off to the NFL, the path to the starting role in Lincoln Riley’s offense is clear for Hurts heading into the 2019 season but that doesn’t mean the former SEC Offensive Player of the Year will be guaranteed anything in Norman.
As he has done every year of his career, Hurts is going to have to earn what he gets as the Sooners signed the No. 1 quarterback prospect in the nation in the 2019 recruiting cycle in Spencer Rattler. Hurts has a head start on Rattler, however, as the freshman won’t arrive until the summer. So far, Hurts has impressed in Norman as Oklahoma defensive back Tre Brown has been impressed with the team’s new QB since he joined the Sooner program.
“He picks up where the rest of the Heismans left off,” Brown said according to John Shinn of the Tulsa World. “He talks about a lot of things, what we ought to work on. He preaches that everybody needs to compete, not just the offense, but the defense. He’s not just one-sided. He cares about us all, and that’s a big difference.”
Brown should know what he’s talking about when it comes to elite quarterback play as he’s practiced against Baker Mayfield and Murray in consecutive seasons in Norman. Based on the current odds, it’s not far fetched to think Hurts could be Oklahoma’s third Heisman Trophy winner in as many seasons.
Hurts currently has odds listed at 6 to 1 to win the award according to the Westgate sportsbook in Las Vegas, only Tua Tagovailoa (5 to 2) and Trevor Lawrence (3 to 1) have better odds at the moment.
A graduate of the University of Tennessee, Michael Wayne Bratton oversees the news coverage for Saturday Down South. Michael previously worked for FOX Sports and NFL.com
