Close your eyes and imagine this for a minute…you’re the quarterback of arguably the best collegiate football team over the last 10 years. You won a National Championship and went 26-2 as a starter there. However, after a rocky first half of your second National Championship appearance, a sophomore comes in and wins the hearts of America. You stay another year to see the fan base that so loved you, love your one time understudy.
While all this is going on there is another national powerhouse that has produced back-to-back Heisman Trophy winning quarterbacks. You want a new place where you can show off your arm strength and running ability… The same traits that the last two Heisman winners share with you. You want a fresh start.
A fresh start is exactly what Jalen Hurts got last night. The now Oklahoma quarterback played under the bright lights against a team in Houston that was thought to have the ability to upset the Sooners. However, Hurts had other ideas. Actually 6 different ideas. Also, by ideas, I meant touchdowns.
In Hurts’ Oklahoma debut, he silenced the doubters who said his passing was a liability by going an incredibly efficient 20 of 23 for 332 yards with three scores and using his legs by carrying the ball 16 times for a disgusting 176 yards and three more touchdowns. Oh, all that happened in a full three quarters of play. Did I not mention that part yet?
Despite the successful debut, in his postgame interview he said that he has to “get better”. I’m not positive on how he could do much better, but if there’s a will, there’s a way.