Lincoln Riley goes into full coach-speak mode regarding Jalen Hurts
It would be a huge upset if Jalen Hurts is not Oklahoma’s starting quarterback this year, but head coach Lincoln Riley is trying to maintain the idea of an unsettled competition.
Conference media days are going on across college football this week, so coaches are careful with their words regarding certain questions. Jalen Hurts is sure to be Oklahoma’s starting quarterback this season, after coming aboard from Alabama as a grad transfer, but head coach Lincoln Riley is not quite ready to declare that publicly.
Hurts had a 26-2 record as Alabama’s starter, with over 5,600 passing yards, 48 touchdown passes and just 12 interceptions along with 23 rushing touchdowns. In the mold and legacy set by back-to-back Heisman Trophy winners Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray, Hurts is an easy successor and a fit for the offense Riley wants to run.
By all accounts Hurts did well during Oklahoma’s spring game. At Big 12 Media Days on Monday, Riley cited the game experience Hurts has that Mayfield and Murray didn’t have when they each stepped in as the starter.
Hurts was of course a hot topic during Riley’s availability on Monday. When asked what sets his new quarterback apart, Riley offered a careful non-answer.
“He’s gotta win the job first,” “If he wins the job, then we’ll talk about that.”
Hurts is technically competing for the starting job with redshirt freshman Tanner Mordecai and true freshman Spencer Rattler. Austin Kendall, last year’s backup, transferred to West Virginia in January amid some resistance from Riley regarding his ability to be immediately eligible this year as a grad transfer.
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Barring an injury during preseason practice, Hurts will be under center when the Sooners open the season against Houston on Sept. 1. His circumstances at Alabama suggests he isn’t going to take anything for granted, but Riley is trying to make sure of it.
Assuring players stay motivated is fine. But Riley’s declaration that Hurts somehow has a lot of work to do to win the starting job comes off as coach-speak at its highest level.