Wednesday afternoon, Baker Mayfield was named as the Big 12’s Offensive Freshman of the Year. A few hours, it was learned that the quarterback would be packing up his hardware and taking it to another campus to continue his collegiate playing career.
Mayfield confirmed to multiple media outlets late last night that he has decided to leave the Texas Tech football team and transfer to an undetermined institution. Tuesday, Mayfield informed Kliff Kingsbury of his decision by phone and, after sleeping on it for a night, reaffirmed it in a face-to-face meeting with the head coach Wednesday.
The San Antonio Express-News wrote that the decision to transfer “came shortly after Mayfield had learned that sophomore Michael Brewer would be the Red Raiders’ starting quarterback in their Dec. 30 Holiday Bowl game against Arizona State.” Obviously, Mayfield will not play in the postseason game.
“I’m disappointed because I love Lubbock,” Mayfield said. “I’m thankful for the opportunity they gave me and everything that Lubbock has done for me, but it’s time for me to move on and start over.”
Tech has granted Mayfield a release, but will be bar him from transferring to another Big 12 school.
A walk-on, Mayfield won the Red Raiders’ starting job (somewhat by default) during summer camp and held onto it until a knee injury in the fifth game sidelined him. He returned and started the last three games of the regular season. Fellow true freshman Davis Webb had started in place of Mayfield as he recovered from the injury, but will apparently get passed over as well as Brewer, who threw just 10 passes this season as he recovered from his own injury, will reportedly get the nod.
Mayfield, who was in line to go on scholarship at Tech this offseason, passed for 2,315 yards, 12 touchdowns and nine interceptions in 2013.