The idea of a two-quarterback system wasn’t completely shut down by OU coach Bob Stoops in late July. However, offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley and the Sooner offense are looking for a lone starter at quarterback to emerge.
OU’s three-player race is down to 2013 Sugar Bowl MVP Trevor Knight, 2013 Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year Baker Mayfield and former four-star quarterback Cody Thomas, who’s familiar with OU's new air raid scheme.
Stoops’ staff dealt with a similar situation two seasons ago when the then-freshman Knight emerged as the team’s starting signal-caller.
This off-season’s competition is nothing new to OU’s 2013 and 2014 starter. Senior Ty Darlington knows firsthand from living with the junior from San Antonio, Texas.
“We’ve been through this before,” Darlington said. “He did it with Blake (Bell) back in his redshirt freshman year and my sophomore year. I try to be there for him and try to be supporting of him.”
It’s no secret Darlington and Knight are close, but the senior center has a good relationship with Mayfield and Thomas as well.
“It’s not just me and Trev,” Darlington said. “I’m, also, very good friends with Baker and Cody. Cody lived with (Trevor and me). Baker might as well have lived with us — he slept on our couch enough.”
While the battle appears close, OU’s quarterbacks seem comfortable with one another.
Knight noted the outside’s perception of the quarterbacks’ relationships is different from what he sees from the inside looking out.
The competition has focused its attention mostly on Knight and Mayfield, but the two are more than just players fighting for the same job.
“(Baker’s) my teammate, my friend, my buddy. That’s somebody I’ll be close with way after football is over,” Knight said. “That’s what a lot of people don’t look at it. It is a competition and you compete against all the guys on your team, but when it comes game day you’re all on the same team and we’re good buddies.”
It's unclear when Stoops will name a starter, but it doesn't seem likely there will be bad blood amongst a group of players who put a different meaning on the phrase "friendly competition."
