NFL DRAFT NEWS

Former OU star Murray picks football for future

Lindyssports.com Staff

February 12, 2019 at 9:32 am.

Dec 1, 2018; Arlington, TX, USA; Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Kyler Murray (1) celebrates after throwing a touchdown pass during the first half against the Texas Longhorns in the Big 12 Championship game at AT&T Stadium. Photo Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Dec 1, 2018; Arlington, TX, USA; Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Kyler Murray (1) celebrates after throwing a touchdown pass during the first half against the Texas Longhorns in the Big 12 Championship game at AT&T Stadium. Photo Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Former Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Kyler Murray made headlines Monday when he tweeted about his decision to focus solely on pro football rather than a potential pro baseball career.

His tweet read: “Moving forward, I am firmly and fully committing my life and time to becoming an NFL quarterback. Football has been my love and passion my entire life. I was raised to play QB, and I very much look forward to dedicating 100% of myself to being the best QB possible and winning NFL championships.

“I have started an extensive training program to further prepare myself for upcoming NFL workouts and interviews. I eagerly await the opportunity to continue to prove to NFL decision makers that I am the franchise QB in this draft.”

Murray was drafted ninth overall in the 2018 Major League Baseball Draft by the Oakland A’s. He’s expected to be drafted in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft in April.

Murray agreed to a minor league contract that included a $4.66 million signing bonus shortly after the A’s drafted him.

Murray is expected to return $1.29 million of the $1.5 million signing bonus money the A’s gave him last year, a source told ESPN’s Jeff Passan. He’ll forfeit the remaining $3.16 million due March 1. The A’s will put him on the restricted list and retain Murray’s rights, but they won’t receive a compensatory draft pick.

Last season at Oklahoma, Murray passed for 4,361 yards and 42 touchdowns and won the Heisman Trophy. He became the first player in FBS history to average at least 300 yards passing and 60 yards rushing a game.  He also surpassed former OU standout Baker Mayfield’s FBS passing efficiency record (set in 2017) with a 95.8 rating in 2018.

Murray joined former Clemson great Deshaun Watson as the only FBS players in history to throw for 4,000 yards and rush for 1,000 yards in the same seasons.

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