Oklahoma’s Cody Thomas quits baseball to focus on spring QB competition

Oklahoma quarterback Cody Thomas won’t play baseball this year so he can concentrate on the competing for the starting quarterback job during spring practice.

Thomas, who made his declaration on Twitter, started three games for the Sooners in place of regular starter Trevor Knight who was out with injury.

"I have decided not to play baseball this spring so I can focus on football," Thomas wrote on Twitter. "I want to thank Coach (Pete) Hughes and the University of Oklahoma baseball program for making this opportunity possible. This has been a tough decision and I am thankful for all the support."

Thomas played in seven games last year and completed 45.5 percent of his passes for 342 yards, two touchdowns and four interceptions.

Thomas’ decision comes on the heels of coach Bob Stoops declaring the quarterbacking job open following a rough outing by Knight in the Russell Athletic Bowl against Clemson. In that game, Knight completed 17 of 37 passes for 103 yards and three interceptions. The Sooners lost 40-6.

Thomas appeared in 14 baseball games last season as a true freshman and had a .083 batting average with one run scored, one walk and two strikeouts. He had one hit in 12 at-bats.

The Sooners will have four players competing for the starting quarterback role this spring, including redshirt freshman Justice Hansen and junior Baker Mayfield, who missed last season after transferring from Texas Tech. Mayfield started his Tech career as a walk-on, but was the team’s starter through the first half of the 2013 season.

For more Oklahoma news, visit SoonerScoop.com.

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