Heisman Winner Plans to Turn Pro—in Different Sport

Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray won the Heisman Trophy Saturday after a stellar year: 4,053 yards, 40 touchdowns, a 12-1 record, and a playoff berth for the Sooners. But maybe the most remarkable nugget of all: He was drafted by baseball's Oakland A's earlier this year—he went ninth overall—and will be at spring training in a few months, reports USA Today. Murray has said for a while now that he plans to play baseball over football, notes the Washington Post, though he would likely be a first-round draft pick in the NFL. Ahead of the ceremony this week, the clear-cut choice seemed to be not quite as clear cut.

"I'd like to do both if possible," he said, per ESPN. "But I don't know how possible that is." Immediately after the Heisman ceremony, Murray chose not to dwell on it. "As of right now, everybody knows I'm playing [baseball]," Murray told reporters. "I'm not really focusing on it right now." Only two Heisman winners have gone on to play in the baseball Majors—Bo Jackson in the 1980s and Vic Janowicz in the 1950s, per MLB.com. (Tim Tebow is trying to join that club, too.)