Oklahoma Sooners install Blake Bell, throws for most yards in first OU start

After two years of backing up the school’s all-time leading passer in Landry Jones, and the first two games of 2013 for freshman Trevor Knight, the “Belldozer” era has officially begun. What better way then to throw for more yards than any other Sooners quarterback in their first career start.

More than the greats before him; Jones, Sam Bradford, Jason White, Josh Heupel. Junior Blake Bell threw for 413 yards on 27-of-37 passing for four touchdowns as the No. 14 Sooners dominated Tulsa 51-20 to move to 3-0, 1-0 in the Big 12 Conference.

Bradford had 363 yards and three scores in his first start, a 2007 win over North Texas, while Jones only threw for 286 yards in 2009 against Idaho State.

Bell, who entered for Jones in short-yardage plays, found Sterling Shepard up the middle from three yards for his first career passing touchdown. The score made it 17-7 Sooners. Bell had scored 24 rushing touchdowns in his two years at OU.

The Belldozer already had the second-most passing yards in the first half of a Oklahoma quarterback’s first start with 281 yards. By comparison, Knight has thrown for 205 yards in the first two games combine.