Kyler Murray brings athleticism, arm strength, and massive potential to any organization. After choosing football, there’s ample upside.
Excitement sells jerseys in the NFL. This year, Oklahoma quarterback and reigning Heisman Trophy winner Kyler Murray brought more excitement than any other college football player.
Unlike most quarterback prospects this spring, Murray was also the No. 9 pick in the 2018 MLB Draft. On Monday, Murray finally announced his intention to play football. With that, the onus is now on Murray to prove choosing to bypass baseball was the right decision.
This year, Murray and Ohio State quarterback Dwayne Haskins are projected as first-round prospects in April’s draft. Haskins led the Buckeyes with 4,831 yards and 50 total touchdowns, while Murray carried the Sooners to the College Football Playoff with 4,361 passing yards, 42 touchdowns to accompany 1,001 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns.
Here are a few reasons why Murray should be considered for QB1…
Murray’s Orange Bowl showcase
Nobody has a better collegiate defense than the Alabama Crimson Tide. It didn’t matter against Murray, who went for 308 passing and 109 rushing yards along with three touchdowns. Despite Oklahoma losing 45-34, Murray showed that his arm and feet can put up yards and points against one of the nation’s best programs.
The Big 12 has been a hotbed for rookie quarterbacks:
While some Power Five conferences have not been great at producing young signal-callers, the Big 12 is famous for its rookie quarterbacks producing in the NFL.
In 2010, quarterback Sam Bradford won Offensive Rookie of the Year with the St. Louis Rams. Baylor’s Robert Griffin III threw the Washington Redskins to an NFC East title as a rookie in 2012. Last year, Baker Mayfield showed his excellence with 3,725 yards and 27 touchdowns as a rookie with the Cleveland Browns.
Then there’s the reigning MVP. Patrick Mahomes sat as a rookie, but as a first-year starter, he posted only the second 5,000-yard, 50-touchdown season in league history.
The Big Ten has not been famous for its quarterbacks
While the Big 12 has produced multiple NFL Draft passers, the Big Ten does not have a promising history for its passers. Penn State’s Kerry Collins was the last first-round quarterback from a Big Ten school when the Carolina Panthers selected him with the No. 5 overall pick in 1995.
Height does not always matter for mobile quarterbacks
Height is often an important factor when teams evaluate a quarterback’s chance to succeed in the NFL. Generally, teams want tall quarterbacks who can see over the offensive lines, take hits, and avoid batted passes.
Some short quarterbacks have exceeded expectations to put up great throwing numbers, though. Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson has appeared in two Super Bowls. Doug Flutie enjoyed a long and productive career across the USFL, CFL and NFL. Despite a shorter frame, Murray has the mobility and arm strength to enjoy a productive NFL career.