Houston Cougars star quarterback D’Eriq King is sitting out the rest of the season so he can become a graduate transfer, and the rumors connecting him to Oklahoma have already started, though that might not make the most sense.
King is in his senior season at Houston and the team has started out a disappointing 1-3. Not only is this not the start they envisioned, but King is also playing for a new head coach; Dana Holgorsen is in his first year since taking over for Major Applewhite.
King was a star last season, passing for 2,982 yards, 36 touchdowns and six interceptions, while rushing for 674 yards and 14 scores. This year has been much different as he’s completed just 52.7 percent of his passes (a career-low by far) and averaged just 6.0 yards per pass attempt (another career-low mark). Perhaps he feels his talent is not being maximized, and maybe he feels his abilities can be maximized elsewhere.
The obvious transfer destination has to do with playing for the coach who has taken three straight transfers and plugged them into his system and catapulted their careers: Lincoln Riley.
The Sooners have produced the last two Heisman Trophy winners by turning around transfers Baker Mayfield (Texas Tech) and Kyler Murray (Texas A&M). This year they have graduate transfer Jalen Hurts (Alabama) putting up big numbers and in contention for the award as well. That’s why many instantly connected King to Oklahoma.
Good lord, Lincoln Riley’s going to have 4 straight Heisman winners…
I’m joking.
Kinda https://t.co/yDiFMJi4c0— Peter Burns (@PeterBurnsESPN) September 23, 2019
Lincoln Riley: "And another one"
Going ahead and put me down for a transfer to Oklahoma for King.
Baker->Kyler->Jalen…D'Eriq? https://t.co/0WUDlMJiOP
— Jayson Braddock (@JaysonBraddock) September 23, 2019
God almighty Oklahoma quarterback D'Eriq King is going to be pure gasoline
— Ben Kercheval (@BenKercheval) September 23, 2019
Future Oklahoma QB D'Eriq King early favorite to win 2020 Heisman. https://t.co/GOOjWLMQus
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) September 23, 2019
While the King-to-Oklahoma talk is fun and the Sooners are the first program many think of for talented quarterback transfers, it should not be viewed as a sure-thing for two reasons. One: Oklahoma has Tanner Mordecai and more importantly, Spencer Rattler waiting. Rattler was one of the top quarterback recruits and is expected to redshirt this season and then potentially take over next year.
The second reason is that many have connected King to Florida State, where former Houston offensive coordinator Kendal Briles now coaches.
While we all point to Oklahoma as a D'Eriq King landing point for obvious reasons, I'd also be curious about Florida State, where his former Houston OC Kendal Briles is.
— Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) September 23, 2019
FSU has redshirt sophomore James Blackman and current grad transfer Alex Hornibrook. Hornibrook will be gone and King is much better than Blackman. King had excellent success working with Briles last year and may want to reconnect with him.
We will probably find out before too long where King is headed. For now, he is one of the most highly desirable players available.
