Can Jalen Hurts live up to the Oklahoma Heisman hype?

At Alabama, Jalen Hurts continually was Mr. Consistent for the Crimson Tide. As a true freshman, he won the starting job over from Blake Barnett and easily led the Crimson Tide to the College Football Playoff. While they lost the National Championship that year, Hurts was the guy rolling forward for Alabama. Until he wasn’t.

Everyone knows the story. Losing at halftime to Georgia in the National Championship, Tua Tagovailoa inserted into the game, then this.

Ever since that point, the Crimson Tide were Tua’s team. When called upon in the SEC Championship, Hurts was able to show one final time what made him an Alabama legend.

When Hurts announced he was going to Oklahoma, it completely changed the outlook of the Big 12. Oklahoma was still going to be the favorites to win the conference, but it renewed Oklahoma’s hope for national championship glory.

Following that announcement, expectations went through the roof. Everyone expects three things out of quarterbacks right now at Oklahoma. A chance to play for the national championship, a Heisman trophy, and to be drafted with the number one pick in the NFL draft. With those high expectations, pumping the breaks on what to expect out of this Oklahoma offense needs to be looked at.

Hurts is neither Baker Mayfield nor Kyler Murray. When you look at his stats as a starter his freshman year, Hurts only threw for more than 300 yards on one occasion against Mississippi State. Kyler Murray did so in 10 different games and Mayfield in eight games in their Heisman campaigns. Well you can argue that Oklahoma and Alabama have very different systems and Hurts was going against SEC defenses while the two Oklahoma quarterbacks were playing against the Big 12. There is more into it than that.

Hurts has a career completion percentage of 62.9 percent. Before the season where he was mainly the backup, it was at 61.8 percent. Jalen is not the most accurate thrower of the ball. Maybe he could be able to run the ball effectively? Yes, but think about it. Is he really going to run and scramble as well as one of the most athletic quarterbacks in college football history? Murray exploded for 1,000 yards last season while averaging 7.2 yards per carry. Hurts best rushing season was his 954 yards. While it may not seem like that huge of a difference, Hurts averaged over two yards less than Murray, averaging 5 yards a rush.

Oklahoma will have the better offensive weapons than Alabama did in Hurts’ two years of starting, but it will not be that much of a difference. Hurts dealt with Damien Harris, Bo Scarbough, Josh Jacobs, and Najee Harris in the backfield. Trey Sermon and Kennedy Brooks will be good, but Alabama’s four headed monster over two years beat almost everyone but Georgia. CeeDee Lamb will be Hurt’s main target, but Oklahoma lost 1300 yard receiver Marquise ‘Hollywood’ Brown to the draft this year. Once you get past those two, nobody on the Oklahoma roster had more than 457 yards last season. There is some inexperience there.

The main issue is the offensive line. Oklahoma’s offensive line has been the heart and soul to the success of the offense the past two years. Without them, their star quarterbacks do not have the opportunity to make the plays millions are dazzled by. Only one starter from one of the best offensive lines in the country returns for the Sooners next year. Mix in a ‘leave the pocket too early’ Jalen Hurts, and bad things are bound to happen. Whether it will be turnovers, not being able to gain yards, or even Hurts being inaccurate from the pocket, something has to give.

Finally, Jalen has never had to put up as many points as he will have to this upcoming season. Against Power 5 opponents, Hurts led offenses averaged 36.6 points per game. That includes some blowouts where maybe he did not play the entire game. Last season, Oklahoma’s defense allowed 36 points per game. Offense is what has carried Oklahoma to the past two College Football Playoffs. Hurts may of been able to put up those points, but that does not mean he had too. Putting up points in pressure situations are very different than putting up more points en route to a blowout.

Am I saying count out Oklahoma as the team to beat in the Big 12? No. Am I saying Oklahoma should not be one of the favorites to make the College Football Playoff? No. All I am saying is the expectations may be too high because of the last two years. Hurts could go into the Big 12 and realize these are the easiest defenses he has ever played against and completely ball out. He could also take some time to learn Lincoln Riley’s system, lack experience with skill position players, and struggle at times. I am confident when saying Jalen Hurts will not win the Heisman trophy this upcoming season. There is no doubt he will be able to put up good numbers for himself, but they will be nowhere near Baker Mayfield or Kyler Murray.