Add the Heisman Trophy to Kyler Murray's growing list of accolades. Likely add increased speculation about his future, too.
Murray, an Oakland A's prospect who also plays quarterback for Oklahoma, was voted the recipient of the Heisman, which is given to college football's most outstanding player.
Kyler Murray, Heisman Trophy winner. pic.twitter.com/5rOdchvY3l— ESPN (@espn) December 9, 2018
Murray beat out two other quarterbacks -- Alabama's Tua Tagovailoa and Ohio State's Dwayne Haskins -- for the award, which he received Saturday in New York. Being so honored will do nothing to quiet talk that he could change his mind and pick football over baseball.
This past summer, Murray signed a $4.66 million contract with the A's, who drafted him No. 9 overall as an outfielder, and he has said he'll join them for spring training next year. Scott Boras, Murray's agent, said Thursday that his client remains committed to playing baseball.
Sports
"Kyler has every intention of fulfilling his agreement with the A's, and he's grateful he has had the chance to pursue his college goals," Boras told The San Francisco Chronicle's Susan Slusser. "He will be in spring training with the A's."
Murray himself hasn't been as clear, though. He told ESPN last week that pursuing a football career is "something me and my family will talk about at the end of the season and weigh out the options of what the NFL thinks of me." He also said Friday that he'd like to play both football and baseball, but he wasn't sure if doing that would be possible.
Underclassmen have until Jan. 14 to declare their intention to enter the 2019 NFL Draft. So, if Murray wants to pursue a football career, he'll have to decide by that date. He also could decide to return to Oklahoma for his senior season, although that seems unlikely, given all the atention he has received as a potential first-round NFL draft pick.
[RELATED: Murray recreates iconic Bo Jackson photo in Heisman campaign]
Murray is listed at 5-foot-10 and 195 pounds, but that slight size is countered by his unique play-making ability. In his first season as Oklahoma's starting QB, Murray has thrown for 4,053 yards and 40 touchdowns, and run for 892 yards and 11 more scores in 13 games.
Murray will lead the Sooners (12-1) against top-ranked Alabama (13-0) in the Dec. 29 Orange Bowl, with a berth in the Jan. 7 College Football Playoff national championship game on the line.
That game will be played at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara. A's fans hope it won't be the last time they see Murray play in the Bay.
