Quarterback power rankings: Best college football quarterbacks of 2019

SANTA CLARA, CA - JANUARY 07: Trevor Lawrence #16 of the Clemson Tigers throws a touchdown against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the College Football Playoff National Championship held at Levi's Stadium on January 7, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. The Clemson Tigers defeated the Alabama Crimson Tide 44-16. (Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images) /

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Jalen Hurts, Manny Diaz, Miami Hurricanes

MIAMI, FL – DECEMBER 29: Jalen Hurts #2 of the Alabama Crimson Tide warms up prior to the game against the Oklahoma Sooners during the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Capital One Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium on December 29, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

7. Jalen Hurts, Oklahoma

From two consecutive College Football National Championship Games as the starting quarterback to become a backup in a runner-up season at Alabama, Jalen Hurts changed addresses for his final college football season and transferred to Oklahoma.

Hurts has success attached to his name and places him with the other big names to pass through Norman at quarterback. Kyler Murray and Baker Mayfield preceded him, so even without the titles, there are big shoes to fill in head coach Lincoln Riley’s electric offense.

Mayfield worked out of the pocket. Murray handled himself passing and throwing. Hurts is a different case, as he played like a ball-control game manager at Alabama. It worked for containing turnovers, but he reached 2,780 yards as a freshman and had a 700-yard fall as a sophomore before Tua Tagovailoa took over in the 2018 title game and became a star.

Hurts has the starting experience to lead any offense in college football, but 2019 will be the test of his upside. Can he throw for over 4,000 yards like the quarterbacks before him? Does he have 3,000-yard potential?

Even if not, Riley used Murray’s legs often in 2018, and Hurts has a season of over 900 yards on his resume. If he approaches that again and airs out the football, Oklahoma may have its third consecutive Heisman Trophy contender.