Mack Brown Says He Made Mistake Not Recruiting Baker Mayfield

Oklahoma Sooners junior quarterback Baker Mayfield led his team to an 11-1 record and spot in the 2015 College Football Playoff.

Now, former Texas Longhorns head coach, Mack Brown, said he regrets not recruiting the 6'-2'', 214-pounder who hails from the school's hometown of Austin, Texas, per Jason Kersey of The Oklahoman:

“I've been criticized enough about quarterbacks,” Brown said. “But this is one that not only I missed, but everybody missed.”

Brown may be deflecting, but he's also not wrong. According to Kersey, Mayfield received just three FBS offers, and ended up walking-on with the Texas Tech Red Raiders.

After transferring to Oklahoma as a walk-on after his freshman season, he sat out a year before earning the starting job in 2015.

Mayfield has thrown 35 touchdowns against just five interceptions this year, and his Sooners are the third-highest scoring team in the country.

Brown expanded on his recruiting process of Mayfield, per Kersey:

"

We all knew Baker was a really good player, but with (Division I quarterbacks) Michael Brewer, Garrett Gilbert and Baker all coming from Lake Travis [High School], some people probably thought it was a system.

Boy, all of us made a huge mistake. He's just a super player and probably as much for his spirit, his team leadership, his toughness. Just what he brings off the field really enhances his ability to run and make plays on the field.

"

While Brown, who last coached Texas in 2013, certainly swung and missed, so did Texas Tech head coach Kliff Kingsbury, per Chris Sadeghi of KXAN News in Austin:

The Heisman winners Sadeghi were talking about include Johnny Manziel and Robert Griffin III, who both ended up going to schools in the state of Texas.

Mayfield, perhaps ironically, had his worst game of the season Oct. 10 in a 24-17 loss to Texas. 

However, that is a distant memory as he and the No. 4. Sooners prepare to take on the No. 1 Clemson Tigers in the Orange Bowl.

Mayfield also doesn't seem to be thinking much about his recruiting process, or the fact Brown missed out on him, per Kersey: “I don't think I would be happy there, even though it's in Austin. I love Austin but I don't think I'd be happy playing there. Didn't give too much thought about it."