Jalen Hurts announces transfer to Oklahoma after three seasons at Alabama

Jalen Hurts has found a new home after three seasons at Alabama.

The quarterback announced Wednesday he will transfer to Oklahoma.

Hurts graduated last month and will be eligible this upcoming season.

The decision by Hurts comes nine days after Alabama finished its season with a loss to Clemson in the College Football Playoff national championship game. Hurts made visits to Maryland, Oklahoma and Miami (Fla.) last weekend as he sorted out his options. 

Hurts was 26-2 as a starter and led the Crimson Tide to the national championship game in his first two seasons. He was beat out for the job by Tua Tagovailoa this fall after Tagovailoa replaced him in the second half of last year's title game against Georgia. 

Hurts served as a backup and played sparingly throughout the season. His biggest contribution came in the SEC championship game when he replaced an injured Tagovailoa and led Alabama on two touchdown drives in the fourth quarter to beat the Bulldogs. 

In his three seasons, he threw for 5,626 yards and 48 touchdowns and ran for 1,976 yards and 23 scores.

The decision should provide an immediate boost to the Sooners, who have a  quarterback vacancy after Kyler Murray's departure. 

Rising junior Austin Kendall has put his name in the NCAA transfer portal and is expected to leave the program. The only other two scholarship quarterbacks on the roster in 2019 will be redshirt freshman Tanner Mordecai and incoming freshman Spencer Rattler. 

The move also give Hurts an opportunity to work with Sooners coach Lincoln Riley. The past two transfer quarterbacks to Norman - Baker Mayfield and Murray - each won the Heisman Trophy. 

The experience at quarterback will be a boost to Oklahoma as it attempts to make a third consecutive playoff appearance.

In making the decision, Hurts turned down the chance to work with two former coaches at Alabama.

At Maryland, he would have reunited with former Crimson Tide offensive coordinator Mike Locksley, who was hired as head coach by the Terrapins. Locksley joined the Alabama staff in 2016, the same year Hurts arrived in Tuscaloosa.

Miami (Fla.) also had familiar face as incoming coach Manny Diaz hired Dan Enos as the team's offensive coordinator. Enos served as Alabama's quarterbacks coach last season.