The finalists for the 2016 Heisman Trophy were revealed on Monday, and No. 7 Oklahoma had not one, but two of its own receive invitations to New York.
Quarterback Baker Mayfield, who some believe got the snub in last year's invitations, and wide receiver Dede Westbrook were both selected as finalists, something that has only happened five times previously, according to Jake Trotter of ESPN.
Year | Teammates | School |
---|---|---|
1994 | Ki'Jana Carter & Kerry Collins | Penn State |
2002 | Willis McGahee & Ken Dorsey | Miami |
2004 | Matt Leinart & Reggie Bush | USC |
2004 | Adrian Peterson & Jason White | Oklahoma |
2005 | Matt Leinart & Reggie Bush | USC |
2016 | Baker Mayfield & Dede Westbrook | Oklahoma |
Strangely enough, this is not the first time the Sooners have sent multiple players to the Heisman ceremony, as running back Adrian Peterson and Jason White received invitations in 2004.
Even more coincidentally, a second pair of teammates were also invited in 2004, being quarterback Matt Leinart and running back Reggie Bush. Leinart won the award in 2004, while Bush took home the hardware in 2005 before eventually vacating the trophy years later amidst an NCAA investigation.
If either Mayfield or Westbrook end up winning the Heisman, it will be the first time an Oklahoma player has won the award since quarterback Sam Bradford in 2008.