Crimson Tide QB Hurts transferring to Oklahoma
Jake Trotter breaks down what Jalen Hurts’ transfer to Oklahoma means for the Sooners. (0:42)
Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts has committed to play his senior season at the University of Oklahoma.
He announced his decision Wednesday via a story on The Players’ Tribune.
As a graduate transfer, Hurts is eligible to play immediately.
Hurts entered the transfer portal last week and took his first official visit to Maryland on Friday. He visited Oklahoma on Saturday and Miami on Sunday.
Hurts also drew interest from a number of other programs, sources told ESPN, including Auburn, Tennessee, Utah, UCLA, Florida State and Ohio State.
The Houston native went 26-2 as a starting quarterback at Alabama before he was benched in favor of Tua Tagovailoa this season.
Oklahoma is blocking quarterback Austin Kendall from being immediately eligible at West Virginia as a graduate transfer next season, sources told ESPN.
Hurts appeared in all but two games in 2018 as a backup. He completed 51 of 70 passes for 765 yards, 8 touchdowns and 2 interceptions, and he rushed for 167 yards and 2 touchdowns.
During his two seasons as the starter, Hurts won an SEC Offensive Player of the Year award and threw for a combined 4,861 yards, 40 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, to go along with 1,809 yards and 21 touchdowns rushing.
Oklahoma has had success with transfer quarterbacks in the past, as Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray went on to win the Heisman Trophy and lead the program into the College Football Playoff in each of the past two seasons, most recently losing in the semifinal round to Alabama in the Capital One Orange Bowl in December.
Spencer Rattler, the No. 1-ranked dual-threat quarterback and 29th-ranked overall prospect in the ESPN 300 Class of 2019 rankings, signed with Oklahoma in December during the early signing period.
Rattler’s father told ESPN’s Tom VanHaaren that the family “knew” of the Hurts transfer possibility and that it would have no impact on his son’s decision to attend Oklahoma.
“Not at all,” Michael Rattler said. “Jalen is a great young man and Spence is looking forward to competing and learning from him.”