CFB notebook: Mayfield leads Lombardi field

The Lombardi Award is down to seven finalists after initial balloting whittled the candidate list from 21. The finalists are 2017 Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Baker Mayfield of Oklahoma, 2016 Heisman-winning quarterback Lamar Jackson of Louisville, Stanford running back Bryce Love, Penn State running back Saquon Barkley, Alabama safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, Iowa State linebacker/quarterback Joel Lanning and UCF linebacker Shaquem Griffin. The Lombardi Award, which previously was given to the top lineman or linebacker in the country, changed its criteria this year and is now open to players at any position based on performance, leadership, character and resiliency on and off the field. --Running back Abdul Adams left Oklahoma and enrolled at Syracuse as a transfer. Adams, who will be required to sit out a year before becoming eligible for the 2019 season, told cusenation.com that he is already taking classes at Syracuse. As a sophomore last season at Oklahoma, Adams rushed for 542 yards and two touchdowns while averaging 9.2 yards per carry. The 5-foot-11, 205-pound Adams had a big game against Baylor with 164 yards on 11 carries in the Sooners' 49-41 victory. --Former Michigan State wide receiver Hunter Rison said over the weekend that he will transfer to Kansas State. Rison, the son of former NFL All-Pro wide receiver Andre Rison, announced Jan. 9 that he was leaving Michigan State after his freshman season in which he caught 19 passes for 224 yards. His reception total was fourth on the team. Rison, who will not be eligible to play in 2018, is the second Michigan State wide receiver to transfer this offseason. Trishton Jackson is heading for Syracuse. --Three weeks after losing to Georgia in an epic Rose Bowl thriller, Oklahoma is set to add a Bulldogs assistant coach to Lincoln Riley's coaching staff. According to a report by ESPN on Monday, Shane Beamer is joining Riley as the Sooners assistant head coach for offense. --Quarterback Keller Chryst will leave Stanford after graduating this spring and play his final season for another program. Chryst will be eligible to play next fall at an FBS school as a graduate transfer. He announced his decision Sunday on Twitter. After entering the 2017 season as the starter, Chryst was injured and eventually lost the job to freshman K.J. Costello. Chryst ended the year completing 56.6 percent of his passes for 905 yards with 10 touchdowns and two interceptions.