Hurts beats Mordecai in `closest' QB battle
NORMAN — J alen Hurts had long been the assumed starter, but coach Lincoln Riley summarized Oklahoma's offseason quarterback battle in a much different way a day after announcing Hurts won the job.
“I just thought (Hurts) was just slightly better here as it went on,” Riley said Tuesday night. “Probably the closest one we've had since I've been at Oklahoma, I would say for sure. Maybe had one other in my career as far as how close it was.”
Hurts, the graduate transfer from Alabama, beat out redshirt freshman Tanner Mordecai.
Mordecai will serve as OU's second- t eam quarterback, Riley announced. True freshman Spencer Rattler will be the third option.
“Tanner Mordecai did a phenomenal job, made a lot of big plays during camp,” Riley said. “Spencer Rattler showed early control and playmaking ability that's pretty rare for someone his age. You certainly get excited about those two and the bright futures that they both have for this 2019 team and beyond.”
Hurts was t he e x pect e d choice given his experience. He went 26-2 as a starting quarterback at Alabama before losing his job to Heisman Trophy runner-up Tua Tagovailoa. Hurts, f r om Channelview, Texas, transferred to OU in January for his final season of eligibility.
Riley said Hurts was “a little bit more in control,” but that the outcome of the competition had“nothing to do with experience.”
“You can look at it and say, well, if it' s close, you give it to Jalen, because he's been in the fire and had experience and all this and that,” Riley said. “But he's also got only one year.
“You could also look and say, well, if they're close, you go with one of the young guys, because they're already close at this point and you could potentially have a multi-year starter and all the obvious benefits of that. So that wasn't a factor. Just based it purely on performance. Not going to sit here and break it down. He was just a little bit ahead. This was the time to do it.”
Hurts and the Sooners will open the season Sept. 1 against Houston.
Dixon scheduled for season opener
Ric key Dixon, one of 15 upcoming inductees into the College Football Hall of Fame, will be honored during Oklahoma's season-opening game against Houston.
Dixon' s appearance will be part of the hall of fame's On-Campus Salute tradition.
Dixon was a star defensive back for the Sooners from 198487. He won the Jim Thorpe Award in 1987 and ranks second on OU's all-time interceptions list behind Darrel Royal.
Dixon was diagnosed with ALS in 2013. He's expected to be in Norman for the Houston game, but it's not clear if he will participate in an on-field ceremony.