Happy NFL Draft Day, friends and fans! Tonight, the first round of picks in the 2019 NFL Draft will be announced, and a number of Oklahoma Sooners figure to hear their names called over the next three days. Obviously, Kyler Murray appears to be the favorite to go No. 1 overall, but others like Marquise Brown and Cody Ford are also in play for walking across the stage in Nashville this evening. For many of these players, this draft is the next step in a journey that began in grade school. With all the different paths that guys like Murray, Brown, and Rodney Anderson took, it’s kind of amazing to see how they all crossed one another when they chose to come to Oklahoma. Below, you can watch and listen why each of these talented athletes decided joining the Sooners was the right one for them. You heard it directly from the guys who put in the time and the work. Like Anderson says, OU’s family atmosphere separated it from the other schools recruiting him. Also, these players are the type that have never been afraid of competition. If anything, they’ve sought after it. Like the adage says, iron sharpens iron. I’ll be interested in seeing more episodes like this one showing discussions between the players. It’s pretty cool insight into their perspectives at a time when opening forums for voices of all walks of life is sorely needed. Now that you’ve seen them work on the field and chop it up off of it, tune in during the NFL Draft to see where their journeys lead them next. The fun begins tonight at 7 p.m. CT and airs on the NFL Network, ESPN and ABC. These next three days are going to be huge, both for these draftee hopefuls as well as the program that brought them all together. Now onto today’s Hot Links! Nike released a new ad featuring Kyler Murray, Sooner Softball sets a new program record, Rami Malek is slated to star in the new 007 movie and more! OU Links In case you haven’t yet, make sure you check out our profiles on all the eligible Sooners as the NFL Draft draws near. Kyler Murray, Ben Powers , Austin Seibert and more are on the board, and we here at Crimson & Cream Machine took a look at the need-to-know details on all of Oklahoma’s prospects. , and more are on the board, and we here at Crimson & Cream Machine took a look at the need-to-know details on all of Oklahoma’s prospects. Oh look, it’s the Stoops’, the Murrays and the Rileys (and Mike Houck) on their way to all the draft festivities. This could be the cast of a new sitcom and you better believe I’d binge watch it. Gil Brandt says Kyler Murray is the ‘man of the hour’. Does he know something we don't? I mean yes, he probably knows a million things most of us don’t, so I wouldn’t be surprised if he has that kind of inside info. Joel Klatt ranked his top five NFL prospects from Big 12 schools, and wouldn’t you know it, a trio of Oklahoma players occupy the top three spots. Boomer! Top 5 Big 12 prospects in the NFL Draft, according to @joelklatt: 1. Kyler Murray (Oklahoma) 2. Marquise Brown (Oklahoma) 3. Cody Ford (Oklahoma) 4. Dalton Risner (Kansas State) 5. David Montgomery (Iowa State) pic.twitter.com/KmcdCgG7Zr — FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) April 24, 2019 Check out this new Nike ad with Kyler Murray talking about how he grew up playing many sports, but now he’s dedicated to the one he’s been truly passionate about. No going to lie, this one gave me chills, man. I could say Bill Bedenbaugh needs a raise every offseason and it would probably be warranted. His track record is ridiculously good right now, and ESPN’s Todd McShay recognizes that Oklahoma is the place to be for quality offensive linemen. Check out Kyler Murray and Cody Ford getting some fresh cuts ahead of the NFL Draft in Nashville. I wonder how much that barber charges, because I’m starting to look a little grizzly, myself. There doesn’t appear to be a receiver in this draft class that’s far and away better than the rest, but according to NFL Network’s Peter Schrager, Oklahoma’s Marquise Brown is the only wideout getting consistent first round buzz. 7. Only receiver I’m hearing consistently — across the board — getting first round “lock” buzz is Marquise “Hollywood” Brown. — Peter Schrager (@PSchrags) April 25, 2019 Speaking of “Hollywood”, check out the ice he’ll be flexing tonight. It’s a miniature version of himself in his OU uniform, complete with the grill and all. Talk about drip, oh my word. Oklahoma softball run-ruled Wichita State 8-0 on Wednesday, improving to 42-2 on the season and setting a new program record for consecutive wins at 32. These Sooners are something else, and their games are must-see television. I can hardly wait for this postseason run they’re about to make. WATCH: Oklahoma’s offense was powered by homers, lifting the #Sooners to their 2️⃣2️⃣nd run-rule win of the year! #ChampionshipMindset pic.twitter.com/AvRVFCIVBo — Oklahoma Softball (@OU_Softball) April 25, 2019 Bark in the Park is back! You can bring your pups to L. Dale Mitchell Park on May 4th when the Sooners host Texas Tech. For more information, follow the link in the tweet. Bark in the Park returns to L. Dale Mitchell Park on May 4! Full info ➡️ https://t.co/G3dMoBhezn#Sooners pic.twitter.com/WacYBiIyvz — Oklahoma Baseball (@OU_Baseball) April 25, 2019 According to a report from The Oklahoman, Lon Kruger has hired Jim Molinari as the staff’s third assistant coach. Molinari, who replaces Kevin Kruger on the staff, is a former Kansas State teammate of Kruger’s and has previously been the head coach at Northern Illinois, Bradley and Western Illinois. He most recently served as an assistant for former Nebraska coach Tim Miles. Around the Sports World Which three teams could trade with the Arizona Cardinals for the first overall pick tonight? SB Nation’s Christian D’Andrea fills you in on the possibilities.<doc-sep>With the 2019 NFL Draft kicking off on Thursday night, it’s that time of the year when fans of SEC teams will celebrate yet another collective victory. One can only imagine how happy all of these people must be to watch players from rival teams achieving their dreams. In fact, league propagandists have already taken out an advance on insufferableness. It's NFL Draft Week! Most Players Drafted by Conference: 2018: SEC 2017: SEC 2016: SEC 2015: SEC 2014: SEC 2013: SEC 2012: SEC 2011: SEC 2010: SEC 2009: SEC 2008: SEC 2007: SEC Is that good? — SEC Network (@SECNetwork) April 22, 2019 Meanwhile, the Big 12 will endure the usual slew of pot shots about the level of talent across the conference, and the numbers don’t lie. The Big 12 only produced 20 total picks in 2018, the fewest of any Power Five conference. Even if you break that down by the average number of picks per team, the Big 12 still comes up short: SEC: 3.8 ACC: 3.2 Pac-12: 2.5 Big Ten: 2.4 Big 12: 2.0 That’s not an aberration, either. The Big 12 has consistently lagged behind the other major conferences in producing draft picks. In fact, it actually closed the gap with the other stragglers relative to 2017: SEC: 3.8 ACC: 3.1 Pac-12: 3.0 Big Ten: 2.5 Big 12: 1.4 If this is the kind of thing that gets your knickers twisted, my advice would be to move on. We’re talking about a structural issue inherent to the Big 12, which has a compressed recruiting footprint compared to the other power leagues. Recruiting rankings show that teams in the SEC are working with the finest raw materials year in and year out. Last year, the SEC accounted for 10 of the top 25 most talented rosters in the country, according to the 247Sports College Football Team Talent Composite. That’s 71% of the league’s membership. The Big 12 had just two in the top 25: the Texas Longhorns and Oklahoma Sooners. That’s the lowest mark in terms of number of teams and essentially tied for last with the ACC in percentage of conference composition. Most NFL Draft Picks • All-Time 506- USC 499- Notre Dame 444- Ohio State 385- Oklahoma 364- Michigan 359- Nebraska 355- Alabama 350- PSU 346- Tennessee 344- Florida 342- Texas 341- Miami 335- LSU 323- UGA 321- UCLA 311- Michigan St 297- Washington 282- Texas A&M 281- Pitt — Pick Six Previews (@PickSixPreviews) April 25, 2019 Feel free to point out the handful of programs that produced an outsized draft class full of three-star players that one year if you’d like. The numbers clearly bear out that the programs recruiting the best prospects out of high school generally send the most players to the pros. The Big 12 has fewer teams in that bucket, and that’s not going to change any time soon. *** Of course, if you insist on blaming someone for the Big 12’s struggles vis-à-vis the NFL draft, you might start with the folks down in Austin. The chart above shows the total number of draft picks each current Big 12 team has produced during the last 15 seasons in five-year increments. Back in the salad days from 2004 to 2008, 25 Longhorns were selected in the draft. By the 2014-2018 period, UT saw just 11 players go in the draft, a decline of nearly 60% from the ‘04-’08 period. For some perspective, UT ranked fifth in the Big 12 in NFL draft picks from ‘14 to ‘18, trailing Oklahoma (23 picks), Baylor (14), West Virginia (14) and TCU (12). In all fairness, the Sooners’ draft production tailed off slightly during the most recent period, too. OU’s decline pales in comparison to what happened to its Red River rivals, though. Lately, signs point to the Big 12’s two big dogs trending in a positive direction. The Sooners could see three players go in the first round – quarterback Kyler Murray, wideout Marquise Brown and offensive lineman Cody Ford. Upwards of six more could hear their names called in rounds two through seven – offensive linemen Ben Powers, Dru Samia and Bobby Evans; running back Rodney Anderson; defensive lineman Amani Bledsoe; and kicker/punter Austin Seibert. If all nine are picked this year, it would mark OU’s largest draft class since 2005. Even though the Longhorns are taking smaller steps than their rivals, they’re still moving forward under coach Tom Herman’s regime. Four Horns went in the 2018 draft, and at least three seem likely to be selected this year – defensive lineman Charles Omenihu, defensive back Kris Boyd and linebacker Gary Johnson. Receiver Lil’Jordan Humphrey and a few other UT prospects stand a solid chance of being picked as well. Moreover, UT’s draft crops should start bearing more fruit around 2021 as Herman’s highly touted recruiting classes mature. Bottom line: If and when the Longhorns snap out of their malaise, the Big 12 should see a little shine restored to its NFL rep.<doc-sep>With the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, the Arizona Cardinals have selected former Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Kyler Murray. It’s the second consecutive draft in which an OU quarterback has been selected first, with Baker Mayfield going to the Cleveland Browns in 2018. After months of speculation, Kyler Murray is officially teaming up with Kliff Kingsbury in the desert. On paper, this pairing seems like a great fit. The former Texas Tech head coach has built a reputation for employing prolific offenses, and with a player like Murray to run his offensive vision, the possibilities are endless (provided the Cardinals are able to build around him). If what he did with Patrick Mahomes in college was any indication of what’s to come, fans of the Arizona Cardinals should be in for a real treat. From September to December, Kyler Murray took the college football world by storm. On a weekly basis, he lit up highlight reels across the nation with dazzling runs and game-breaking throws. He became the second player in FBS history to pass for 4,000 yards and rush for 1,000 yards in the same season. In 2018, he totaled 4,361 yards through the air, 42 touchdowns and seven INTs on 260-377 (69%) passing while adding 1,001 rushing yards and 12 more scores on 140 carries. As far as NFL player comparisons are concerned, Russell Wilson has been mentioned, as well as Michael Vick (Todd McShay) and Steve Young (CBS Sports). Personally, I believe that in time, Murray will show how he’s a one-of-kind player that hasn’t been seen before and may never be seen again. His speed is about as good as it gets, regardless of position, and he’s an exceptional passer both from the pocket and on the move. Follow Crimson & Cream Machine on Twitter!<doc-sep>With the No. 25 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, the Baltimore Ravens have selected former Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver Marquise Brown. From end zone to end zone, there probably isn’t a faster player in this draft class than the Hollywood, Florida native, and Lamar Jackson now has himself a deep threat. He also joins former teammates Mark Andrews and Orlando Brown at his new team. Not many receivers, or any players for that matter, can say they played with two Heisman Trophy winners while in college. Not only can “Hollywood” Brown say that, he can say he was the No. 1 receiving target for two different Heisman winners (Baker Mayfield in ‘17, Kyler Murray in ‘18). As a senior, he was named a First Team All-American by the AP, ESPN and Sports Illustrated. In his two seasons at Oklahoma, he started 21 of 27 games played, recording 132 receptions for 2,413 yards and 17 touchdowns. His average of 18.3 yards per catch ranks No. 1 in OU history for players with more than 70 career receptions. While his cousin is former Pittsburgh Steeler and current Oakland Raiders wide receiver Antonio Brown, the pro that Hollywood’s game has been more often compared to is DeSean Jackson (USA Today’s Nate Davis, Walter Football’s Charlie Campbell, and NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein). His game-breaking speed and agility should translate well to the NFL, and in college he showed off his solid hands and savviness as a route runner. Follow Crimson & Cream Machine on Twitter!<doc-sep>
When Baker Mayfield was drafted first overall last April, nobody expected his successor would have a chance to repeat the feat. Enter Kyler Murray. After a historic Heisman Trophy winning campaign in his lone season as the starter for the Oklahoma Sooners, becoming the No. 1 pick in the 2019 NFL Draft is firmly within the realm of possibility. Kyler Murray’s Story Years before he donned the Crimson & Cream in Norman, Kyler Murray was no stranger to success. As the starting QB at Allen High School, he led his teams to three straight 6A DI Texas state titles, including a pristine 43-0 career record. His prowess and ability on both the football and baseball fields earned him National Gatorade Athlete of the Year. Thank you to Gatorade & #TheESPYS for an unforgettable night! pic.twitter.com/pPpbKSY2o0 — Kyler Murray (@TheKylerMurray) July 17, 2015 Coming out of Allen in 2015, the five-star recruit signed with Texas A&M, where his father, Kevin Murray, played quarterback from 1983-86. Murray played sparingly for the Aggies, going 2-1 as a starter in College Station before deciding to transfer to Oklahoma at the end of the season. Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray, Oklahoma 2017 pic.twitter.com/kz6RDPJ9ch — College Teammates (@NCAATeammates) December 8, 2018 Per transfer rules, Murray sat out the 2016 season, then backed up Baker Mayfield (who had a year of eligibility restored after his own transfer) in 2017. After those two years on campus, Murray was finally in line to become the Sooners’ starting quarterback. During the spring of ‘17 and ‘18, Murray also played for the OU baseball team as an outfielder. His electric speed on the bases was apparent to anyone who saw, and in his final season he showed tremendous promise at the plate as well. Last June, Oakland selected the dual-sport athlete with the ninth overall pick in the MLB Draft. Fortunately for the NFL, the Athletics gave Murray the green light to play college football in the fall. From September to December, Kyler Murray took the college football world by storm. On a weekly basis, he lit up highlight reels across the nation with dazzling runs and game-breaking throws. He became the second player in FBS history to pass for 4,000 yards and rush for 1,000 yards in the same season. In 2018, he totaled 4,361 yards through the air, 42 touchdowns and seven INTs on 260-377 (69%) passing while adding 1,001 rushing yards and 12 more scores on 140 carries. En route to winning the Big 12 Championship, Murray also won the Heisman Trophy and Davey O’Brien Award in addition to securing AP Player of the Year and a First-Team All-America (AP, FWAA) honors. In February, Murray announced that he was committing to playing football full-time. With his prospects as a QB in the NFL so promising, the decision to walk away from baseball — although tough on his heart — appears to have been the right one. NFL Combine/Pro Day Results Checking in at 5’10” and 207 pounds, Kyler Murray chose not to run at the NFL Combine nor his pro day. However, he did throw during his pro day, and his performance impressed the over 100 scouts and media members in attendance. As far as NFL player comparisons are concerned, Russell Wilson has been mentioned, as well as Michael Vick (Todd McShay) and Steve Young (CBS Sports). Personally, I believe that in time, Murray will show how he’s a one-of-kind player that hasn’t been seen before and may never be seen again. His speed is about as good as it gets, regardless of position, and he’s an exceptional passer both from the pocket and on the move. Draft Projections These days, you won’t find many mock drafts without Kyler Murray’s name at the very top. Now whether that’s with the Arizona Cardinals (who currently hold the pick), or somebody else via trade, the general consensus going into draft night is that OU will see its second QB in as many years selected with the first overall pick. The following mock drafts have Murray going No. 1 overall: CBS Sports’ Ryan Wilson, Chris Trapasso, Tom Fornelli and Sean Wagner-McGough, SB Nation’s Dan Kadar, Pro Football Focus’ Steve Palazzolo, NFL.com’s Charles Davis, Chad Reuter and Daniel Jeremiah, and ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay. Kyler Murray Highlights Follow Crimson & Cream Machine on Twitter!