Baker Mayfield leaving Texas Tech for Oklahoma
By Mike Dyce
Texas Tech quarterback Baker Mayfield is leaving to head to Oklahoma Sooners. Head coach Bob Stoops shot down the reports in a round-a-bout kind of way.
“We are very pleased and excited about the quarterback situation and young guys coming into our program,” Stoops said regarding Mayfield. “It isn’t something we pursue.”
Mayfield confirmed that he is going to Oklahoma to SoonerScoop.com. Mayfield confirmed that he hasn’t spoke with Stoops or the football team.
Shortly after, ESPN Big 12 blogger Jake Trotter did a Q&A with Mayfield. In the interview Mayfield suggests that he was having problems with his scholarship with Tech, that he wouldn’t have one in the spring and that they were working one for next fall.
“OU was where I’ve always wanted to go,” Mayfield said. “I grew up an Oklahoma fan. I used to go to all the games watching a bunch of people who are in the NFL now.”
Considering how disgruntled he was with playing time and his situation at Tech, Oklahoma is a surprising choice. They seem to have the quarterback situation locked down with Trevor Knight, especially after that Sugar Bowl win over Alabama. He suggested that his decision to go to Oklahoma was about more than just football.
“I know what they’re thinking,” Mayfield said. “Trevor played phenomenal in the Sugar. He beat Alabama, which had arguably the top defense for five years in a row. Yeah, they can say that. But I’m not scared of competition at all. I like Trevor. He’s a nice guy. And I know Blake Bell is a big dude and has some good ability. I watched from the sideline [as he] beat us. He played one of his best games against Texas Tech. But I mean, I’m not scared of that at all. It’s not just about the football, too. Oklahoma is just a better academic opportunity as well. It’s just a better school. It’s just a better opportunity for me at this point. “