Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts is transferring but which of his three options is the best fit?
The college football transfer portal has been busy lately. The quarterback position has been especially interesting, with guys like Justin Fields, Tate Martell, Brandon Wimbush and Austin Kendall looking for spots where they can start and thrive. The biggest name to generate buzz is Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts. With Tua Tagovailoa putting together a Heisman-caliber season, the best option for him to get playing time is to transfer.
Plenty of college programs would love to have a quarterback with the talent Hurts has. His ability to manage the passing game and be a force on the ground can help many college offenses. However, most teams won’t have a chance to get him. Hurts will go to a place he feels comfortable in, and a place that can maximize his talent.
It sounds like Hurts is deciding between three schools: Maryland, Miami, and Oklahoma. Each would be great fits for different reasons. Which one of those is the best fit? Let’s rank his options.
1. Oklahoma Sooners
Yes, the Sooners don’t have someone on their coaching staff that has worked with Hurts in the past (we will visit that with the other two), but Oklahoma presents a great opportunity for him. First off, the reputation of the Sooners as a quarterback’s dream is well-documented. Head coach Lincoln Riley has had a top offense with his past two quarterbacks, along with playoff berths, and oh yeah, back-to-back Heisman trophy winners. The offense brings back plenty of weapons, including wide receiver CeeDee Lamb and running back Trey Sermon.
Also, the Sooners present an opportunity for Hurts to win the starting job. One of their only quarterbacks on their roster, Austin Kendall, has also entered the transfer portal. With just two quarterbacks on scholarship at the moment, the Sooners could easily end up being Hurts’ team.
2. Maryland Terrapins
Maryland is a popular spot for Hurts for a couple of reasons. The first, and most important, is that the Terrapins new head coach is former Alabama offensive coordinator Mike Locksley. Hurts has a very good relationship with Locksley, and Locksley knows from their time at Alabama how to maximize the talent Hurts has. Locksley also gets running back Anthony McFarland back, who rushed for over 1,000 yards in 2018.
The other part of Hurts’ transfer is finding a team who can win. While Maryland isn’t Oklahoma, they have been slowly creeping up the Big Ten. A win over Texas and a near win over Ohio State in 2018 provide enough intrigue to where Hurts could elevate the Terrapins.
3. Miami Hurricanes
They aren’t very far behind, but the Miami Hurricanes are the third best option for Hurts right now. They are in a transition with Mark Richt retiring and Manny Diaz taking over, but there is a reason for optimism with this team. Miami is only one year removed from an Orange Bowl berth, and they consistently have a tough defense and running game. The one thing they need is a quarterback.
Why would Hurts go here? Well, Miami’s new offensive coordinator is none other than Dan Enos, who was Alabama’s quarterbacks coach this past season. He is very familiar with Hurts and his ability. It is also likely that Hurts could win the job fairly easily in Miami, with their quarterbacks fizzling out in 2018.
Time will tell but Hurts certainly has some good options out there.