If the NFL Draft is an accurate indication, Oklahoma had the best quarterback, the best wide receiver and the best offensive line in the nation this year.
After just one season as a starter, former OU quarterback Kyler Murray was the No. 1 pick in the draft by the Arizona Cardinals. The Cardinals were so enamored with Murray that they almost immediately traded quarterback Josh Rosen – drafted in the Top 10 last year – to the Miami Dolphins. That cemented Murray’s status with new Arizona head coach Kliff Kingsbury.
“I’m just so proud of Kyler and the way he’s handled this entire process,” said OU coach Lincoln Riley. “He’s gone through something that no one has ever gone through with the amount of scrutiny in different sports, the hype that he’s had since he was such a young kid. To see him get to this moment as the No. 1 pick, that’s been his dream. To see him live this part of it out is awesome.”
Riley has now had two of his quarterbacks – Murray in 2018 and Baker Mayfield in 2017 – not only win the Heisman Trophy but be the No. 1 pick in the draft. (Mayfield was the No. 1 pick of the Cleveland Browns last season).
The Sooners are the first team to ever have two first-round quarterbacks in consecutive NFL drafts. And Murray – who was drafted in the first round of the Major League Baseball Draft by the Oakland A’s – is the first person ever to be drafted in the first round of both MLB and the NFL.
“It’s been a dream of mine since I was a kid,” Murray. “All the hard work. Everyone that has been in my corner and pushed me to be here, I can’t thank them enough. I have to thank God. This is surreal.”
Murray, who is from Allen, Texas, went to Texas A&M but then transferred to Oklahoma in 2016. He had to sit out a season and then he backed up Mayfield in 2017. Murray led Oklahoma to a 12-2 record in 2018, a fourth consecutive Big 12 championship, a second straight appearance in the College Football Playoff and a No. 4 final AP ranking in his only year as their starter. Murray completed 260 of 377 passes on the year for 4,361 yards and 42 touchdowns with only seven interceptions.
He rushed for 1,001 yards and another 12 touchdowns, becoming just the second player in FBS history to throw for at least 4,000 yards and run for at least 1,000 in a season Former Clemson star Deshaun Watson – now with the Houston Texans – did it in 2015 with 4,109 passing and 1,105 rushing in 15 games).
Kingsbury has known Murray since he was 15 and had recruited him for Texas Tech. When Kingbury was still at Texas Tech, he said that if he were an NFL coach with the No. 1 pick in the draft, he would take Murray.
“It’s something we’ve talked about for a long time,” Murray said. “God works in mysterious ways. For me to play for him now is a surreal feeling.”
Kingbury had a little trouble convincing Cardinal General Manager Steve Keim to use the No. pick for Murray.
“I’m not going to lie to you, I was reluctant,” Keim said. “I did not want to watch the tape, I did not want to fall in love with the player. I watched more and more, saw the things he can do. As I continued to get to know the person, as we did all our homework, our due diligence, the more and more I became convinced this was the right guy for us.”
Before last season, pundits were convinced that Murray’s future was in baseball because he was only 5-10 and weighed only 207 pounds. He will be the smallest quarterback in the NFL but Arizona coaches think he will be as good as Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson, who is also undersized by NFL standards.
“God works in mysterious ways,” Murray said “Me choosing to play football, Coach Kingsbury getting the job in Arizona, having that relationship, it’s crazy to think I’m playing for him now.”
Kingsbury said he has seen some quarterbacks who could pass as well as Murray and some who run as well as Murray but no one who could do both as well.
“He’s a dynamic talent, a unique talent that I don’t know if anyone has seen,” Kingsbury said.
• Former Sooner Marquise Brown, perhaps the fastest player in the draft, was the first wide receiver drafted. He was taken by the Baltimore Ravens, who drafted former OU tight end Mark Andrews last season.
“Marquise’s story is well-documented,” said Riley. “What are the chances a guy who had to walk to work and fight his way just to get to junior college ends up being the first receiver taken? I’m thrilled for him and his opportunity. He’s going to bring a lot to the Baltimore Ravens. Their fans will love his explosiveness, which we really came to appreciate the last couple of years at Oklahoma.”
Brown, from Hollywood, Fla., earned AP First-Team All-America honors in 2019 after ranking 14th nationally with 94.1 receiving yards per game and catching 10 receiving touchdowns.
His 1,318 receiving yards rank as fourth most in school single-season history and he tied for the national lead in receptions of 40-plus yards (11), 50-plus yards (seven) and 60-plus yards (four).
Brown, the cousin of All Pro wide receiver Antonio Brown of the Oakland Raiders, had six games with at least 100 receiving yards. OU’s CeeDee Lamb and Brown combined to give OU its first pair to each record at least 1,000 receiving yards in a season.
In a win at West Virginia, Brown caught a career high 11 passes for 243 yards – the second most in OU history. At Iowa State, he had 189 yards in the first half alone.
Brown was a transfer from College of the Canyons.
- Four of the five starters for Oklahoma’s offensive line were drafted the first four rounds. That line won the Joe Moore Award, which goes to the best offensive line in the nation.
- Cody Ford went to Buffalo in Round 2.
“I’m thrilled for Cody. He had to overcome a ton here at OU with the really bad injury against Ohio State in his first year and then moving positions,” Riley said. “He’s one of the nastiest offensive linemen I’ve ever coached, and I think he was probably the most dominant tackle in the country last year. Seeing him now as a high draft pick is amazing. His best ball is in front of him.”
Ford was All Big 12 and a third team All America selection.
- The Los Angeles Rams drafted Bobby Evans (Round 3).
“I’m so happy for Bobby, who was a great three-year starter for us. I’m just so proud of his development and how he’s grown as a player, from a guy who was really thrown in there early in his career as a redshirt freshman to a guy who really blossomed into one of the best tackles in the country,” said Riley. “I’m excited for him and his new opportunity with the Los Angeles Rams.”
Riley was a second team All Big 12 pick. - Dru Samia went to the Minnesota Vikings (Round 4).
“Dru is one of the guys who started on the ground floor with this thing four years ago, and to come to Oklahoma and be a four-year starter on the offensive line is a rare, rare thing,” Riley said. “But Dru’s done it and has been one of the most intense, dedicated players that I can ever remember. He played guard, tackle and a little bit of everything for us. He’s been a great leader and a guy who really brought an edge to our group. He’s going to be really valuable at the next level because of his intensity and his versatility, and I know the Vikings are really going to love having him.”
Samia was a second team All American and a Polynesian Player of the Year finalist. - Ben Powers was drafted by the Ravens (Round 4).
“What a story Ben is,” Riley said. “Nobody really recruited the kid out of high school or junior college, and he’s a guy who just did everything right in our program. He’s worked his tail off and his best ball is certainly ahead of him. He’s a tremendous player, been a great leader and representative for us, and I’m really happy for him as he takes his next step with the Ravens.”
Powers was a consensus All American in 2018 and an Outland Trophy semifinalist. - The Cleveland Browns drafted OU kicker Austin Seibert in the fifth round.
“Austin’s been one of our more valuable players the last several years,” Riley said. “It’s really amazing how good he’s been at field goals, kickoffs and punts throughout his career. He’s made big kicks and has had big moments all four years, and then this past year pulled off the rare feat of being a specialist who was elected by his teammates as a captain. He did a great job in that role. He’s been very, very valuable because of his unique skill set and I’m excited to follow him at the next level.”
Seibert is the leading scorer in OU history with 499 career points and he ranks first in the nation among FBS kickers with career points and career extra points made. - The Cincinnati Bengals drafted former Oklahoma University running back Rodney Anderson in the sixth round even though Anderson missed almost all of last season due to a knee injury and he has a history of injuries.