Quarterback Derby to Highlight Spring Game

By John Rohde

This year's Kentucky Derby will still be three weeks away when the Oklahoma football team holds the OU Spring Game at 2 p.m. Saturday on Owen Field, but the Sooners' scrimmage will be the first opportunity for their fans to witness the team's quarterback derby.

Head coach Bob Stoops and new offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley have refused to handicap the race for reporters. Spring practices are typically closed to the general public and media (with the exception of Friday's practice where OU students are invited).

This has brought media speculation and innuendo on message boards as to who is performing well in practice. With Stoops and Riley wanting to retain competitiveness at the position throughout the summer, there's no reason to think either will tip their hand any time before, say, mid-August as to who will be the starter.

I never believed that [the starting quarterback] has to be decided right now because there's such a long period of time through the summer and double the number of practices come fall. There's plenty of time to figure that out.
Bob Stoops

Stoops essentially confirmed this on Monday.

“I never believed that [the starting quarterback] has to be decided right now because there's such a long period of time through the summer and double the number of practices come fall,” he said. “There's plenty of time to figure that out.”

With opponents constantly on the prowl for potential opportunities to scout, expect Saturday's offensive game plan to be two scoops of vanilla. Although the play-calling will lack flavor, even with a creative new offensive coordinator, the scrimmage will still offer a taste of how derby participants carry out their orders. The candidates have some similarities, but they are not carbon copies of each other.

“It's funny because we have four quarterbacks who are all very similar in some ways, very talented, but honestly, personality-wise they couldn't be any different,” Riley said. “They've all been fun to work with and I'm excited about the talent we have with them.”

Stoops and Riley said they were so confident in the four candidates already on campus they didn't sign a quarterback in the 2015 recruiting class. Riley went a step further and said OU's potential at quarterback is why he accepted the job.

“No question,” Riley said. “Anybody that takes a job anywhere is going to know what they have at quarterback. After spending time with them, seeing the way they've handled everything, putting in the extra time to be better. The progress they're making right now is great and I'm happy to work with them.”

Here is a look at the four quarterbacks (listed by OU game experience):

Knight

Trevor Knight (6-1, 201, R-Jr.): A charismatic leader on the field and in the locker room, Knight gained the confidence of teammates so quickly he was voted a team captain as a redshirt sophomore last season. Knight played eight games and made five starts as a redshirt freshman two years ago. Knight is talented, but inconsistent. He was hailed the conquering hero for his brilliant Sugar Bowl performance in a 45-31 upset over two-time defending national champion Alabama, then was vilified when the Sooners were demolished by Clemson 40-6 in the Russell Athletic Bowl last season. Knight's toughness is unquestioned. He returned to play in last year's bowl game despite being carted off the field when he suffered a scary neck injury against Baylor on Nov. 8 that forced him to miss the last three games of the regular season. Though Knight is 11-4 as a starter, he will have to re-earn that role this season.

“It's a mindset that we're going to score every time that we're go out there,” Knight told reporters on Monday when asked about Riley's philosophy. “That's the mindset that he brings in and that he's trying to instill in each and every player … it's more up-tempo, let's go make a play happen.”

While some players may sulk or scoff at the notion of having to re-earn a starting position they previously held, to know Knight is to understand that's not part of his mental make-up.

“You have to compete everywhere you go,” he explained. “Honestly, it's a privilege to be able to compete. It's an honor to wear these colors. I've been here before and that's just the nature of the beast.”

Thomas

Cody Thomas (6-4, 211, R-So.): At this time a year ago, Thomas was splitting time between spring football and the OU baseball team. With an opportunity to stake his claim as the Sooners' starting quarterback, Thomas opted to become a one-sport student-athlete this spring. Thomas responded admirably when pressed into action for the final three regular-season games last year by guiding the Sooners to a 2-1 record, primarily while riding the strong legs of then-freshman running back Samaje Perine. Thomas became a great compliment to Perine after OU became a run-oriented offense the last three games. In his first career start, Thomas rushed for 103 yards on eight carries against Texas Tech.

But Thomas is more than adept at throwing the ball after racking up 4,154 yards and 51 touchdown passes as a senior at Heritage High School in Colleyville, Texas. A four-star prospect coming out of high school, Thomas turned down offers from a host of major programs like Alabama, Notre Dame, USC, Oregon, Auburn and Florida for a chance to play for the Sooners.

Baker Mayfield

Baker Mayfield (6-2, 209, Jr.): Because of his past experience playing in a similar system, some pundits believe that Mayfield may have an edge in OU's showdown of signal callers. Accordingly to the Austin, Texas, native, there is certainly no guarantee that his familiarity will ultimately give him the upper hand.

“Just prior knowledge of the system is the only advantage that I have,” Mayfield said matter-. “But the other guys have been here all spring and have had a chance to learn it, too. We all started this spring as the same point.”

As a walk-on freshman at Texas Tech in 2013, Mayfield was named Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year, even though he played just eight games (seven starts). Mayfield won the first five games as a starter before he was injured at Kansas. Even after he returned healthy, Mayfield did not start again until the final two games of the regular season.

Forced to sit out last season due to NCAA transfer rules, Mayfield adapted quickly in Norman and has become popular among his new teammates. Riley recruited Mayfield heavily out of high school while trying to lure him into signing with East Carolina. Having played for the Red Raiders, the fearless Mayfield already is familiar with the offense and possesses the bravado of a starter. And like Knight, he has expressed much enthusiasm about playing for Riley.

“I was pretty fired up when I heard Lincoln Riley was going to be our offensive coordinator,” said Mayfield. “He's a good guy, a good coach, somebody who you want to have in your program.”

Hansen

Justice Hansen (6-3, 204, R-Fr.): Perceived by some outsiders as a derby dark horse, Hansen redshirted last season and is the only member of the quarterback quartet who hasn't started and won a Big 12 game. However, throughout his 16-year tenure with the Sooners, Stoops has shown he is not afraid to start an inexperienced freshman at quarterback. A four-star recruit out of Edmond Santa Fe High School and the nation's No. 6 quarterback two years ago (Rivals.com), Hansen arguably has the strongest arm of the four candidates. Credit good OU genetics on that count. He is the son of Dusty Hansen, who was a member of the OU baseball team that claimed the 1994 College World Series. While an ankle injury curtailed the younger Hansen's senior campaign, much like Thomas, he piled up plenty of big passing numbers as a prep, throwing for 3,079 yards and 36 touchdowns as a junior.

“All of our quarterbacks have different motivations to start,” Riley said. “For Baker, he's been out awhile and is hungry to get that starting position. For Trevor, he wants to retain his starter's job. We also have a couple of young guys wanting to dive into the mix. It's going to be a good battle.”

From 2007-12, quarterback play at OU was prolific with the back-to-back stellar careers of 2008 Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford and Landry Jones. Since Jones' departure, however, the starting job has been in constant flux due to injuries and inconsistency.

A quick trip down memory lane:

All of our quarterbacks have different motivations to start. For Baker, he's been out awhile and is hungry to get that starting position. For Trevor, he wants to retain his starter's job. We also have a couple of young guys wanting to dive into the mix. It's going to be a good battle.
Lincoln Riley

In 2013, there was a three-way race heading into the fall among Knight, Blake Bell and Kendal Thompson. Thompson was injured on the first day of practice, leaving a showdown between Bell and Knight. Knight won the starting job, even though Bell had scored 24 touchdowns the previous two seasons primarily on third-and-short or red zone situations. Knight got hurt against West Virginia in the second game of the season and was replaced by Bell. After throwing for 413 yards and four touchdowns against Tulsa, Bell led the Sooners to a 35-21 victory at Notre Dame, throwing for 232 yards and two touchdowns and rushing for 59 more yards. Five weeks later, Bell got injured against Baylor.

Two weeks after that, Knight shined in a 41-31 victory at Kansas State, but was injured in the first half at Oklahoma State. Bell came off the bench and directed a 66-yard, eight-play drive with 1:46 left in the game for the go-ahead touchdown. Knight capped the season by completing 32 of 44 passes for 348 yards and four touchdowns in OU's romp over the Crimson Tide at the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans. With Knight clearly the front-runner at quarterback, the 6-foot-6, 254-pound Bell approached the coaching staff shortly after the bowl game and volunteered to move to tight end, an offer that was accepted.

In 2014, Knight was the unquestioned starter. Mayfield previously was a walk-on at Texas Tech and transferred to OU, but had to sit out the season and lost one year of eligibility because he transferred from one Big 12 school to another. Knight was injured against Baylor in the ninth game of the season. Had Mayfield been eligible, his first start would have come against his former team. Instead, Thomas started against the Red Raiders and also the final two regular season games. Knight returned to the starting lineup and the entire team struggled in a loss to Clemson at the Russell Athletic Bowl in Orlando.

In January, Stoops hired Riley away from East Carolina to become the Sooners' new offensive coordinator. As a walk-on quarterback and former receivers coach at Texas Tech, Riley was a protégé of former Red Raiders coach Mike Leach, who served as OU's offensive coordinator in 1999 during Stoops' first season with the Sooners. No doubt, Stoops and Riley would likely love to have one signal caller rise head and shoulders above the rest of the pack heading into fall drills.

The first leg of the Oklahoma quarterback derby will be on display Saturday at Owen Field. No need to wear a fancy hat at the OU Spring Game, though fans might feel compelled to sip a mint julep (or other refreshing beverage) before checking out the latest edition of the quarterback race.

About John Rohde

John Rohde is a respected name on the Oklahoma sports scene and will provide regular features for SoonerSports.com. Voted Oklahoma Sportswriter of the Year five times, Rohde has covered OU football and basketball, the Oklahoma City Thunder, OKC/New Orleans Hornets, Dallas Cowboys, Texas Rangers, the Final Four, Masters and PGA Tour. He spent over 26 years for The Oklahoman, serving as a columnist and beat writer. He can be heard on 107.7 The Franchise, the flagship station for OU Athletics weekdays from 5:30-9 a.m.