Bob Stoops: Baker Mayfield should be granted immediate eligibility

Dorial Green-Beckham was not the only high-profile transfer to head to Oklahoma this offseason as former Texas Tech quarterback Baker Mayfield transferred to the Sooners after starting the first five games as a walk-on true freshman.

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Mayfield started the first five games for Tech, compiling a perfect 5-0 record and three games with more than 367 yards passing and a 2:1 touchdown to interception ratio. He didn’t play in the next four games before returning to the lineup for three games before seeing Davis Webb start the team’s Holiday Bowl win against Arizona State.

Texas Tech head coach Kliff Kingsbury denied the transfer to Oklahoma per team policy and Mayfield will not be able to redshirt this season as he sits out per NCAA transfer rules. But Stoops and Oklahoma filed a waiver for immediate eligibility because he was not on scholarship.

"“I think it’s one thing if you’ve invested a scholarship in an individual and he decides to leave, heck, they even half the time allow them to play immediately,” Stoops said. “But a guy, that you haven’t invested a scholarship in, I don’t know why that would even be something.“Why would that be an issue?”"

Trevor Knight is the starting quarterback for Oklahoma after his performance in the Sugar Bowl win over Alabama when he threw for 367 yards and four touchdowns, but was inconsistent in the regular season and didn’t impress in the Sooners’ spring game.

Stoops likes what he has seen from Mayfield in the spring and his composure in the huddle and his ability to make plays..

“Baker is really a good player,” Stoops said. “Through all our scrimmages in the spring, it was obvious to everyone that he played a year ago, that he’s been on the field, in action. The way he handles himself, the poise, the plays he makes, he really does an excellent job.”

If Mayfield were granted immediate eligibility, he could make the quarterback picture a little cloudy heading into fall camp. At minimum, he would push Knight as competition makes everyone better and the Sooners would add depth to the position with Blake Bell moving to tight end full-time.

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