QB Hurts leaves Alabama, transfers to Oklahoma
Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts announced that he will transfer to Oklahoma.
Hurts made the announcement Wednesday in a story in the Players’ Tribune. He will be immediately eligible as a graduate transfer.
Hurts was a two-year starter who led Alabama to a pair of national championship games and was Southeastern Conference offensive player of the year as a freshman.
Tua Tagovailoa replaced Hurts at halftime against Georgia in the national title game after the 2017 season, then beat out Hurts for the starting job heading into this past season and finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting.
Hurts could have transferred earlier, but he stuck it out and rallied Alabama past Georgia in the SEC title game this past season after Tagovailoa was injured. As Oklahoma prepared to play Alabama in the College Football Playoff, Sooners coach Lincoln Riley had praise for Hurts.
“Could not be more impressed with Jalen Hurts, how he handled that just from afar,” Riley said. “Big fan of that kid and how that entire situation was managed.”
Hurts leaves Alabama with 5,626 yards and 48 touchdowns passing, and 1,976 yards and 23 touchdowns rushing.
Hurts should help Oklahoma smooth its transition from Kyler Murray, who won the Heisman this season and has since declared for the NFL draft. Last year’s backup, Austin Kendall, is expected to transfer. Tanner Mordecai, a freshman last season, is the only other quarterback currently on scholarship. Five-star recruit Spencer Rattler, the consensus No. 1 quarterback in the class of 2019, is committed to the Sooners.
Committee changes
Former Texas A&M coach R.C. Slocum, Arkansas State athletic director Terry Mohajir and retired Gen. Ray Odierno have been added to College Football Playoff selection committee, executive director Bill Hancock announced.
The new committee members replace three whose terms have ended: former Southern Mississippi coach Jeff Bower, former Central Michigan coach Herb Deromedi and former Vanderbilt coach Bobby Johnson.
Slocum went 12347-2 at A&M from 1989 to 2002, and he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2012. Mohajir played football for Arkansas State and coached at Kansas, and Odierno is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy and was the Chief of Staff of the Army from 2011 to ‘15.
Hancock also said that Oregon athletic director Rob Mullens will serve as committee chairman for another season.