Former walk-on Baker Mayfield has beaten out the Oklahoma quarterback who torched Alabama in the Sugar Bowl two years ago, Trevor Knight, and will start in the Sept. 5 season opener against Akron for the Sooners.
Sooners coach Bob Stoops confirmed the news on Monday.
The transfer from Texas Tech, who was also initially a walk-on with the Red Raiders, competed for the job in the preseason with Knight and sophomore Cody Thomas. Stoops said Monday that Knight will serve as Mayfield's backup while Thomas will be the No. 3 QB. At Texas Tech in 2013, Mayfield threw for 2,315 yards in just eight games as a freshman.
Earlier this year, Mayfield also scored some points with his new teammates with some dance moves.
Mayfield's rise also marks a fall for the career of Knight, who looked like the future of the position for the Sooners in a 45-31 win over Alabama in the Sugar Bowl following the 2013 season (348 yards, four touchdown passes). Last year, however, Knight struggled at times, missed three games with a frightening spinal injury, and returned to deliver his worst performance of the season in a 40-6 Russell Athletic Bowl loss to Clemson (17 of 37, three interceptions).
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