Baker Mayfield named starting quarterback for OU

The Oklahoma Sooners reportedly named Baker Mayfield the starting quarterback Monday, according to Eric Bailey of Tulsa World.

Knight was coming off a spectacular performance in a Sugar Bowl win over Alabama, Blake Bell was still a quarterback and Kendal Thompson had not yet transferred to Utah. But injuries, struggles with ill-timed turnovers and the Sooners’ disappointing 8-5 record all apparently played a part in Coach Bob Stoops deciding to make a change at the position.

Mayfield, a transfer from Texas Tech who walked on at Oklahoma, beat out Trevor Knight and Cody Thomas for the right to start against Akron next week.

Mayfield (6-1/209) will be Oklahoma’s fourth starting quarterback since Landry Jones graduated following the 2012 season.

Coincidentally, new Oklahoma offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley recruited Mayfield when Mayfield was at Lake Travis and Riley coached at East Carolina. It is a similar system to what he operated at Tech and also in high school.

But Mayfield was set on joining the Sooners.

Knight still might have the chance for playing time.

Mayfield’s journey to a starting gig at Oklahoma has been a fascinating one.