After producing a 3,700 yard and 43 touchdown performance last season, Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield will enter the 2016 season as the Big 12’s preseason Offensive Player of the Year and a legitimate Heisman Trophy candidate.
It’s been a while since a player has risen to stardom at the accelerated rate that Mayfield has. Even while sitting out the 2014 season, following his transfer from Texas Tech, he immediately became one of the more popular players on the team. Once he became eligible to play it was just a matter of time before he became the starter.
Mayfield’s debut was one for the ages as well. His 388 passing yards were the most ever by an OU quarterback in a season opener and his popularity continued to grow with each passing week. Touchdown after touchdown came as the result of Mayfield’s elusive ability to move around in the pocket. And it all started with a 29-yard touchdown pass to Dede Westbrook in the second quarter of last year’s opener against Akron.