100 Days to Football Time in Oklahoma: #1 Jalen Hurts

The Path to Norman

Jalen Hurts, a Channelview High School (TX) product, has spent the past three seasons in Tuscaloosa. A veteran of 42 games with 28 games started, Hurts has played plenty of football. Wanting to compete for the starting job his senior season having the option to pursue a graduate transfer, Jalen decided to head to Norman.

Career so Far

As a true freshman, Jalen won the starting job his second game. He ended with almost 1,000 rushing yards, an Alabama record for rushing yards by a quarterback, and 36 total touchdowns, another Alabama record. Hurts was the SEC Offensive Player of the Year, Freshman of the Year, and a Freshman All-American. Alabama lost in the National Championship game to Clemson in a close match.

His sophomore campaign saw a similar story. He started the whole season, leading the Crimson Tide to another National Championship game against Clemson. This time, however, Coach Nick Saban replaced Hurts with Tua Tagovailoa at halftime, who led the team to a title. 

In 2018, Jalen played in almost every game, although Tagovailoa was the starter throughout the season. However, in a reversal of roles, Hurts came in for Tua during the SEC Championship game and helped lead Alabama to a conference title. Tua started in the National Championship game, which Clemson won. 

Current Profile

Position: Quarterback

Height: 6’2”

Weight: 219

Year: Senior

Stats

Stats via Soonersports.com

Highlights

2019 Season

After the news broke of Hurts’ transfer, everyone assumed he would easily earn the starting job. Despite reports of a stiff competition, Coach Riley announced his quarterback this month.

Hurts’ maturity and leadership abilities have been evident since arriving in Norman and helped him win the job. Jalen will be working with a new, albeit talented, offensive line, but an experienced set of receivers and running backs. Many have wondered how Hurts, who ran much more at Alabama than Coach Riley is prone to run his quarterbacks, will fit into the OU system. However, Coach Riley has proven himself skilled at putting his quarterbacks in a position to succeed and using their tools while running his own offense. As the Preseason Big 12 Newcomer of the Year, not to mention following in the footsteps of Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray, Jalen Hurts has plenty of expectations. Sooner fans should rest easy, however; Hurts is a veteran quarterback with a hunger to win in his final year of college football.