Being the successor of the 2017 Heisman winner and 2018 1st overall draft pick Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray had some big shoes to fill. Last year, Baker Mayfield led the Sooners to a 12-2 season losing 54-48 to Georgia in overtime of the Rose Bowl to determine who would play in the NCAA Championship.

Most people did not know what to expect with the 5’10” 195-pound upcoming junior, Kyler Murray, but he has far exceeded season projections. His 13-1 season with the Sooners has earned them a spot in the Orange Bowl against Alabama to determine who will play in the NCAA Championship.

On Saturday night, Murray won the Heisman award over nominees Dwayne Haskins and Tua Tagovailoa, quarterbacks of Ohio State and Alabama respectively. Murray led the top offense in the NCAA, generating 7,513 total yards from scrimmage (578 YPG) and 643 total points. Murray’s offensive production has also earned himself the 2018 AP player of the year, 2018 Big 12 player of the year, and the Davey O’Brien award.

Murray led the Big 12 in passing yards and touchdowns, throwing for 4,053 yards and 40 TDs with only seven interceptions. He has proven to be a problem for defenses throwing the ball, but what separates him from other quarterbacks is his explosiveness and his ability to extend and make plays in the run game, amassing 892 rushing yards and 11 TDs on 123 attempts.

Murray led the Big 12 in touchdowns (51), passing completion percentage (70.9%), pass yards per attempt (11.9), total yards from scrimmage (4,945), yards per play (10.7), and pass efficiency rating (205.7), per sportsreference.com.

Regardless of his success in football, plus the opportunity and potential to be drafted into the NFL, Murray also plays baseball for Oklahoma and was drafted with the ninth overall selection in the 2018 MLB draft by the Oakland Athletics. He will play his final college football season with Oklahoma in 2018 and is scheduled to report to spring training in 2019 for the Athletics to pursue his baseball career on the professional level.

“Kyler Murray runs a high powered offense and he just takes advantage of opportunities. Everything is run and gun, run and shoot, and he just puts up crazy numbers,” said baseball coach Peter Zell.