Sooners rack up honors
ATLANTA — Baker Mayfield might need to check another bag on his return flight back to Norman.
The Oklahoma quarterback picked up two major honors on the 2017 Home Depot College Football Awards show and earned Associated Press and Walter Camp Player of the Year honors earlier in the day.
Mayfield opened up the show by winning the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award and he closed it down with the Maxwell Award, given to the best player in college football.
“It’s obviously very special, and I don’t think I’d put one over the other,” Mayfield said of ranking his honors. “Everything, even just being here is special enough for me.”
His big haul Thursday night bodes well for his chances at Saturday night’s Heisman Trophy ceremony.
Three of the previous four winners of both the Davey O’Brien Award and the Maxwell Award — Marcus Mariota (2014), Cam Newton (2010), Tim Tebow (2007) went on to win the Heisman Trophy. And, all three of the previous Maxwell Award winners won the Heisman in the same year.
“It’s great that I got these,” Mayfield said of his awards Thursday. “I’m not worried about Saturday. I’m enjoying tonight and being around all these special people.”
Mayfield isn’t the only Sooner hauling hardware back home. Offensive tackle Orlando Brown missed out on the Outland Trophy for the nation’s top interior offensive lineman, but tight end Mark Andrews won the Mackey Award and holder Connor McGinnis grabbed the Mortell Award for Holder of the Year.
The Walter Camp Foundation also announced its All-America team, with Brown and Andrews earning a spot with Mayfield on the first team. Pass rusher Ogbonnia Okoronkwo earned a spot on the first team defense.
While Mayfield, Andrews and Brown were in Atlanta for the awards show, McGinnis accepted his individual award with a quirky video featuring kicker Austin Seibert and long snapper Wesley Horky wearing jean shorts and blazers.
After the video played, Mayfield gave an impromptu speech on McGinnis’ behalf.
“He’s perfected the hold,” Mayfield told host Chris Fowler. “He holds everything, water bottles. He holds pencils the correct way. Just shout out to Connor. He really deserves it.”
Fowler also asked Mayfield about Seibert and Horky’s attire.
“You’ve got to come out to Oklahoma to experience that one,” Mayfield said. “Just ask Coach Riley. He does it in his backyard.”
It was a lighthearted moment in the middle of a fun night for the Sooners. Before the ceremony, Mayfield took over ESPN’s Instagram account, posting videos from the preparation and red carpet. He analyzed Brown’s pre-ceremony outfit before Brown got a chance to roast Mayfield for wearing all-team issued gear.
The players weren’t the only people representing OU at the awards ceremony. Coach Lincoln Riley, former head coach Bob Stoops and co-offensive coordinators Bill Bedenbaugh and Cale Gundy were also in attendance. Riley was there to support his players and participate in a couple College Football Playoff news conferences, and Stoops was there to present the Jim Thorpe Award.