Kyler Murray delaying MLB career keeps Oklahoma in College Football Playoff mix
By Logan Ulrich
After being drafted ninth in the MLB Draft by the Oakland A’s, Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray had to decide if it’ll be baseball or football.
Kyler Murray has made his decision.
Murray is the heir apparent to Baker Mayfield as the starting quarterback for the Oklahoma Sooners but had a decision to pursue baseball that could have derailed their national title hopes. With the surrounding talent in Norman and head coach Lincoln Riley’s scheme, Murray has also been mentioned as a possible Heisman contender.
All of that was hanging in the balance when after Murray was drafted ninth overall by the Oakland A’s, Murray could elect to sign for the $4.7 million that slot commands and give up his football career.
But Sooners fans can take a deep sigh of relief because Murray confirmed his intentions to play both football this fall for Oklahoma and will be ready for the baseball season next spring.
The A’s gave their blessing to Murray to continue his college football career where he could potentially guide the Sooners to another appearance in the College Football Playoff. Murray will be ready for the A’s next spring after playing another season with Oklahoma.
Kyler Murray says he will definitely play football this fall and the A's are OK with it.
— Susan Slusser (@susanslusser) June 5, 2018
A's scouting director Eric Kubota says the team was on board from the get-go with Kyler Murray not playing baseball at all this year and playing football for one more season. He'll be ready to play baseball next spring.
— Susan Slusser (@susanslusser) June 5, 2018
Murray was stellar in spot duty last season, completing 18-of-21 passes for 359 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran 14 times for 142 yards, including a 66-yard touchdown romp against West Virginia when he started in place of the suspended Mayfield.
Just in case anybody forgot what Kyler Murray did with his 1st snap of his 1st start at Oklahoma... pic.twitter.com/zZxBPByZLK
— Max Olson (@max_olson) June 5, 2018
At 5-foot-11 and 190 pounds, Murray more likely will have a longer career in baseball than football. According to scouts, many of his negatives can be cleaned up with more experience playing baseball. Baseball won’t hold his size against him like the NFL.
The A’s are known as an organization willing to take risks, but when the pick was announced, it came as a mild surprise that he went this high. Uncertainty about Murray’s future was the only reason he wasn’t seen as a consensus top-10 pick. He played centerfield for the Sooners’ baseball team this spring, hitting .296 with 46 runs and 10 home runs.
This is a big win for the Riley and Oklahoma football fans. With Murray, Oklahoma can win be in the mix for a national championship. Without him, they likely still win the Big 12 but fall short of the playoff.