Mayfield named Camp player of the year

By Chip Malafronte

At the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta on Thursday night, Baker Mayfield received the Walter Camp Award as national player of the year. A few hours later he’ll board a flight to New York, where he’s the overwhelming favorite to win the Heisman Trophy.

It’s certainly an exciting time for Mayfield, the University of Oklahoma quarterback. But recognition as the best player in the country is something he can’t fully appreciate, at least not without the help of family, friends, teammates and coaches.

“I try and enjoy it,” Mayfield said by phone Thursday afternoon, where he enjoyed lunch with seven members of the Walter Camp Football Foundation, including president Mike Madera. “I don’t look at it as they’re honoring me or anything like that. There have been a lot people who’ve supported me; I’ve had a lot of people who’ve helped me along the way. I’m going to try and enjoy it with as many of them as I can.”

There’s also another rather important piece still missing. Oklahoma is two wins away from their first national championship in 17 years, a quest that continues in the College Football Playoff semifinals against Georgia on New Year’s Day at the Rose Bowl.

Mayfield could have left school for the NFL after last season, when he finished third in the Heisman voting and set an FBS record for passing efficiency in a single season (196.4). But the Sooners ended the season with 10 straight victories, including an