Lincoln Riley understood the questions.
He didn’t, however, know the answers.
The 2020 NFL draft neared and scouts toiled to understand: How good could quarterback Jalen Hurts be? And how should they even assess a guy like this?
The journey Hurts had traversed was rare, if not unprecedented. He was emerging from Year 5 of what would become seven straight seasons with a different play-caller. Riley understood the challenge that posed, even as Hurts threw 32 touchdowns to 8 interceptions and rushed for another 20 scores in their lone season together at Oklahoma.