Heisman frontrunner Baker Mayfield graces the cover of Sports Illustrated
By Jack Crosby
With a chance at the Big 12 title looming as well as another College Football Playoff berth, Oklahoma’s Baker Mayfield graces the cover of Sports Illustrated.
This season in college football, there may not have been a more polarizing figure than Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Baker Mayfield. For better or worse, each and every week people seem to be talking about the former Texas Tech walk-on as he has emphatically stated his case for the Heisman Trophy. Having the Sooners on the cusp of a Big 12 title and a spot in the College Football Playoff for the second time in the last three seasons, you can certainly make the case for Mayfield as the best player in the nation for 2017.
With his impressive play on the field, which includes throwing for over 4,000 yards and 37 touchdowns to just five interceptions, the accolades are beginning to roll in for the fifth-year senior. One of those rewards will be taking place this week when Mayfield receives an honor that a lot of athletes covet.
On Thursday, Nov. 30, Mayfield will grace the cover of Sports Illustrated. On Tuesday, just two days before the release of the issue, SI released the cover that highlights the Oklahoma quarterback as well as the piece put together on him by Jack Dickey appropriately titled, “Welcome to the Baker Mayfield Show.”
Among the highlights in the Dickey piece for Sports Illustrated that stands out the most is in regards to a comparison some have made about Mayfield. With his ability to get out of the pocket with his feet and sling the ball downfield, it does bring about many visions of an NFL legend — Brett Favre.
First-year Oklahoma head coach Lincoln Riley sees some similarities to Favre, however, not mainly as a gunslinger as some tend to think.
“I feel like Baker’s a little bit more efficient, I don’t think he’s as much of a gunslinger, he won’t have as many mistakes,” Riley admitted. “But the flamboyant plays, the way they lead, their arms, they remind me a lot of each other.”
To be compared to one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time is a testament to the talent Mayfield has when he steps out onto that field, and it’s easy to see why he’s been so successful during his tenure in Norman.
Still, though, there’s more work to do for Mayfield, including bringing the national championship back to Norman. Accolades aside, that’s all that’s on his mind right now.
“It’s the reason I came back,” Mayfield stated simply.