The Oklahoma Sooners will try and shock the world today when they take on the #1 Alabama Crimson Tide in the College Football Playoff. The Crimson Tide are 13-0 on the year and have been called the greatest college football team in the history of the sport. They are led by their sophomore quarterback Tua Tagovailoa whom burst on to the scene in the second half of last year’s national championship game. He put on his super man cape and turned the game around after a terrible first half and led the Crimson Tide to the historic win.
But when I watch the game today between the Sooners and Crimson Tide, I am more interested in the opposing quarterback. Kyler Murray is the spectacular two sport athlete for the Sooners. He won the Heisman Trophy this year while leading the Sooners football team to a 12-1 record and a birth in today’s College Football Playoff. But Murray is also a phenomenal baseball player. He was already drafted in the top 10 of the MLB draft by the Oakland A’s.
Murray has a bright future and a pile of cash staring him in the eye on the baseball diamond. For most of the year, it has been assumed that despite Murray’s success on the football field, that he has already made up his mind to play professional baseball. But Murray was asked about that this week and he hinted at the thought of playing in the NFL when he said, “It is good to have options.”
Is it possible that Murray would choose the NFL over the MLB? Or would he try and do something that no one has successfully done in over a decade….play both sports?!
Deion Sanders and Bo Jackson were both stars in the NFL and MLB. They did the impossible and played at the highest of levels of both sports. Bo Jackson’s career was cut short due to a horrific injury on the football field. But he still made his mark. Deion Sanders won Super Bowls and made the Hall of Fame in the NFL all while stealing bases, batting lead off, and playing incredible defense in the outfield.
Could Kyler Murray be the next athlete to do such a thing? That would be cool as hell to see. It will be interesting to see how the NFL teams look at Murray as a potential prospect and draft pick. It would be risky to draft him without 100% confidence that he will be committed to the quarterback position. Deion Sanders played defensive back and Bo Jackson played running back. They could miss some training camp and practices and not fall behind. But the quarterback position commands so much more practice and prep time. I would love to see Murray give it a shot.
But first, Kyler Murray will try and slay the dragon today that is Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide. Let’s go Sooners! Cheers!
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