Heisman worthy: Kyler Murray's top 5 plays of 2018
Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray beat out Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa and Ohio State QB Dwayne Haskins to win the 2018 Heisman Trophy. Murray has been the catalyst for Oklahoma’s historic offense in 2018 as the Sooners have averaged nearly nine yards per play.
He’s the second-straight Oklahoma quarterback to win the Heisman and he had stats that were better than Baker Mayfield’s in 2017. Here are five of the best plays of Murray’s 2018 season … so far. The No. 4 Sooners play No. 1 Alabama in the College Football Playoff on Dec. 29.
5. Touchdown pass to Marquise Brown vs. FAU
This pass to Brown in Oklahoma’s blowout win against Florida Atlantic was remarkable. Murray rolled to his left, set his feet, and uncorked a throw that traveled 58 yards in the air. When Murray ends up playing in the outfield for the Oakland A’s, opposing base runners are going to need to take note of his arm strength.
4. Touchdown run vs. Texas
Yeah, Oklahoma ended up losing to the Longhorns in October and Murray had a couple of costly turnovers. But he was also electrifying too. He easily stepped up in the pocket to avoid the rush, slipped around his linemen and then ended up outracing everyone to the end zone to keep Oklahoma in the game in the fourth quarter.
3. Touchdown pass to Lee Morris vs. Texas Tech
Nothing to see here. Just a 35-yard throw on the run lobbed perfectly to the wide receiver just inside the sideline. This throw gave Oklahoma the lead against Texas Tech after two Murray interceptions in the first half had allowed Tech to take a halftime lead.
2. Completion to Trey Sermon vs. Oklahoma
Yeah, this throw isn’t a touchdown. But we chose this end zone view for a reason. Murray immediately sees the free blitzer and scampers to the side to get away from him. As he’s doing so he sees another Oklahoma State player in his way. So he moves to the left and stays behind the line of scrimmage with his eyes downfield. And as he’s moving to his left he throws a strike to Trey Sermon who had come open in the Oklahoma State secondary. Go outside in your backyard and try to throw the ball 30 yards accurately while running to your non-dominant side. You’re probably not going to be able to do it.
1. Touchdown run vs. West Virginia
Every possession mattered in Oklahoma’s game against West Virginia. The season-ending matchup between the schools was a semifinal for the Big 12 title game and West Virginia had taken an early 7-0 lead. Murray juked two defenders on this play and outran everyone else to tie the game. Murray threw for 364 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 114 yards in OU’s 59-56 win to set up a rematch with Texas in the Big 12 title game.
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Nick Bromberg is a writer for Yahoo Sports.
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