BREAKING LIVE: Oklahoma coach Brent Venables officially hint at brutal game plan after making huge changes in the starting lineup” Jackson already ruled out of the starting spot” Michael Hawkins a serious contender” here is his setup….
Jackson Arnold is a former five-star prospect, with enough of a pedigree that Oklahoma coaches felt comfortable letting starting quarterback Dillon Gabriel go to Oregon this past winter. But Michael Hawkins, a rookie, has started ahead of Arnold halfway through his first complete season as the Sooners’ starter.
When Oklahoma plays its SEC road opener at Auburn on Saturday, Hawkins will start, according to the announcement made by coach Brent Venables on Monday.
Hawkins — a 3-star recruit in the 2024 class out of Allen, Texas — completed 11 of 18 passes for 132 yards and a touchdown in Oklahoma’s 25-15 loss to Tennessee. He also ran for 22 yards on 11 carries, perhaps giving the Sooners a dimension they didn’t have with Arnold under center.
“He’s a tremendous athlete,” Venables said of Hawkins on Monday, via The Oklahoman. “There were several times there where we had edge pressure that we didn’t block and he got outside of it. So he has some playmaking ability, and he can hurt you with his legs.”
Arnold has decent-looking numbers through four games this season, as he’s completed 61 of 102 passes for 538 yards and seven touchdowns with three interceptions. However, he was pulled late in the first half of last week’s game vs. the Volunteers amid a 7-for-16, 54-yard, one interception performance
Nevertheless, Venables said Tuesday he’s not ready to give up on Arnold one day being a productive quarterback. The sophomore from Denton, Texas, was the top-rated player in that talent-rich state in the 2023 signing class
“Jackson’s going to have an amazing future and career,” Venables said, via ESPN. “He’s going to play this game a long time and all of that will work itself out in due time.”
Kickoff for Auburn-Oklahoma is set for 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Jordan-Hare Stadium. The game will air live via ABC
