Riley not ready to name starting QB
NORMAN — The wait for the inevitable will last a little longer.
Oklahoma begins fall camp Saturday, but coach Lincoln Riley isn't ready to name his starting quarterback in a competition between Alabama transfer Jalen Hurts and redshirt freshman Tanner Mordecai. Freshman f i ve- star si gnee Spencer Rattler isn't expected to be a factor, at least initially.
“I darn sure am not nailing it down right now,” Riley said Friday at OU media day. “We'll see how it unfolds.”
Hurts i s the overwhelming favorite to win the job. He arrived in Norman after going 26-2 as Alabama's starting quarterback before losing that title to Tua Tagovailoa. Hurts comes with the experience of having started four College Football Playoff games. He ranks third in Alabama history with 7,602 total yards.
Mordecai appeared in two games last season. The Waco, Texas native was named one of OU's offensive scout team players of the year.
“Got a lot of respect for him,” Hurts said of Mordecai. “He's a great player. We're both trying to learn. We're both trying to be the best we can be.”
Riley is likely to name a starter in fall camp rather than letting the battle wage until Week 1 of the season.
“Because then you're able to get it out of the way,” Riley said.
“You're able to start to focus your reps in on the starter and the team knows, everybody knows, and you can move on. But I haven't always done it that way.”
Kyler Murray was named OU's starting quarterback Aug. 22 last year. Baker Mayfield was named the starter on Aug. 24, 2015.
Riley said he's looking for someone who can “command the offense.”
“It's just one of those things when you know, you know,” he said.
“We evaluate stats, but it's more of a feel than just the numbers. It's the feel of the guy that not only can produce and play the best, but lead the best as well.”
Injury report
The Sooners will be near full strength when they begin practice Saturday.
Riley provided an i njury update Friday, and it included few surprises.
Senior linebacker Caleb Kelly and redshirt freshman defensive tackle Jordan Kelley will both miss fall camp as they recover from offseason surgeries for “lower-body injuries.”
OU announced on April 4 that they would undergo surgeries
“Both are doing extremely well, but certainly too early to speculate on anything that involves the season,” Riley said.
Kelly has started 24 games for the Sooners. The senior recorded a career-high 61 tackles last season.
Kelley, from Tulsa Union, redshirted last season after appearing in two games. Senior defensive lineman Kenneth Mann will be limited early in fall camp as he recovers from an injury he suffered in the spring.
Extra point
Friday marked the first time OU players wore patches on their jerseys to commemorate the 150th year of college football.
The “150” patches will be worn on the right chest above the conference logo by every FBS and FCS team this season.