NORMAN — Baker Mayfield looked out over the Intramural Fields on Friday and couldn’t help but think back to the early days of his time on OU’s campus.

“I love it,” the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ quarterback said during his annual kids’ camp. “I say it every year, but I think I have more fun than the kids do. This is the fourth year I’ve been able to do this so, very fortunate to come back and play on the same intramural fields that I did when I first transferred in.”

Mayfield played intramural softball and basketball when he first transferred from Texas Tech to Norman early in 2014.

But his intramural football career was limited.

“I played one intramural football game here — on this field right here,” Mayfield said. “Played receiver the whole time and then got to throw one pass and then I got banned from playing intramural sports.

“It was just fun. Looking back at that, it was the good ol’ days, just playing ball. No politics, no BS, nothing else, just playing football and enjoying the game.”

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Baker Mayfield back at OU intramural field he once played

That football game came during the 2014 season, when Mayfield was sitting out due to NCAA transfer rules. The next season, he won the starting job and won the 2017 Heisman Trophy before being the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.

Under the hot sun Friday, Mayfield lined up on that intramural field again, two teams of elementary and middle school players sharing the field with him while the rest of the campers watched.

Mayfield looked to his left before lofting a pass to a camper to his right.

After the teams switched sides, Mayfield’s next pass was lofted to his left, where a defender leaped and came down with the ball.

“Was that a pick?” one of the camp organizers said into a microphone.

Mayfield raised his arms into the air in mock surprise.

“First one of the year,” he said with a smile.

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Baker Mayfield ready for NFL training camp with Tampa Bay Buccaneers

A year ago, there was plenty of uncertainty swirling around Mayfield after the Cleveland Browns traded for Deshaun Watson, ending Mayfield’s time as the Browns’ starter.

Mayfield was ultimately traded to the Carolina Panthers, where he started six games before being released in December and signing with the Los Angeles Rams.

After playing in the last five games of the season with the Rams — starting the last four — Mayfield signed with the Buccaneers in March.

Mayfield is expected to compete with Kyle Trask to step into Tom Brady’s shoes as Tampa’s starter.

It’s been a different kind of offseason for Mayfield.

“Definitely a lot more busy,” Mayfield said. “It’s my first real offseason I’ve had since 2019. Obviously the COVID years made it real hard to do anything team-wise in the offseasons and then last year was in limbo between the Cleveland-Carolina trade so this is the first one. Been busy since mid-April and haven’t really looked back.”

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Mayfield is getting some down time now, though, before training camp begins in late July.

He’ll play in the American Century Class celebrity golf tournament in Lake Tahoe in mid-July.

“I’m a little worried about the first couple of tee boxes,” Mayfield said. “They’re a little narrow. Fans there definitely need to sign a waiver for when I’m on the tee box.”

Mayfield said he was excited about OU’s impending move to the SEC.

“I think it was kind of inevitable, the fact it’s going to turn into four super conferences, so I think it’s the best move for OU to go to the SEC,” he said. “Obviously I think it’ll be a learning curve, but I think recruiting-wise and everything else I think it’ll help out in the long run. … We’ll get some big boys up front and on the defensive line. It’ll definitely help us.”

Mayfield said he wasn’t concerned about the Sooners’ struggles in the first season under Brent Venables.

“Everybody, I think, hit the little panic button,” Mayfield said. “With how much change there was and overturn, it’s hard to have success. I think he did great in Year One with all the change and I think there’s only great things to come. He’s an unbelievable guy — not just a coach.”

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This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Baker Mayfield talks about OU football, NFL future at camp in Norman