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Oklahoma grad transfer Hurts excited to 'go out with a bang'

Christian Petersen / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Oklahoma made quarterback Jalen Hurts' transfer to the program official on Tuesday, and the former Alabama signal-caller is raring to go.

Hurts announced his decision to join the Sooners for his final season of eligibility last week. As a graduate transfer, he will be eligible to play in 2019.

"There's a great foundation here at Oklahoma, and Coach Riley does a great job," Hurts said. "He's very efficient in what he does. And for my last ride, my senior year, I want to be a part of it.

"Last year I was fully invested in the University of Alabama. And at the Orange Bowl, I was fully invested in beating OU and getting to the National Championship. But now I'm part of the Sooner family and I'm thankful to be here."

"I want to go out with a bang," he added.

Sooners head coach Lincoln Riley is excited to have his new quarterback in the locker room, citing his poise and experience.

"(Jalen) certainly has the ability to be a really good leader for us," he said. "He's got to get in here and learn this team, learn this offense. He's got to get in here and compete for this quarterback job. There are a lot of steps ahead, but there's no doubt, this guy's been in some of the biggest and best games in college football here over the last few years.

"As I've gotten to know him, I've been really impressed by the way he carries himself, the way he works. There's not going to be much that happens to this kid that he hasn't been through already."

Hurts arrived at Alabama in 2016 as a mid-tier recruit but won the starting job as a true freshman over a plethora of highly touted competitors. He was named SEC Offensive Player of the Year as a freshman and led the Crimson Tide to the first of two consecutive appearances in the national championship game.

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