Oklahoma football had to make an early-season quarterback switch, with true freshman Michael Hawkins Jr. stepping in for Jackson Arnold during the Sooners’ loss to Tennessee after Arnold struggled to advance the offense. While the overall offensive performance under Hawkins Jr. has been inconsistent, his scrambling ability brings a dynamic that Arnold has not provided.
On Tuesday, Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables was asked about the possibility of redshirting Jackson Arnold, as he has only played in four games and is now the backup. Venables admitted they had considered it but hadn’t made a final decision yet, according to George Stoia III of Sooner Scoop.
“He wants to be the starting quarterback at the University of Oklahoma,” Venables said, according to Stoia III. “I feel it’s only fair to give Mike the opportunity to prove himself and build a body of work.”
In nearly three full games, Arnold has completed close to 60% of his passes, totaling 588 yards with seven touchdowns and three interceptions. Meanwhile, Hawkins has thrown for 458 yards and one touchdown this season, along with rushing for 128 yards and another touchdown.
Oklahoma’s move to the SEC has been challenging as they work to bounce back from Lincoln Riley’s departure and rebuild their status as a college football powerhouse under Brent Venables. Despite a few unsteady wins over Tulane and Houston early in the season, the Sooners were convincingly beaten by Tennessee and Texas, leaving them clearly in the middle of the conference pack.
The quarterback play from both Arnold and Hawkins Jr. has been underwhelming, though it’s not the primary issue. The offense lacks explosiveness with either QB at the helm, and it’s unclear what Oklahoma’s go-to strategy is for consistently gaining yards.
The offense looked especially outmatched against Texas, scoring just three points and converting only four of 15 third downs. Meanwhile, the defense has been solid and competitive all season, particularly shining against Tennessee as the Sooners fought to stay in the game. However, the defense isn’t at the elite level needed to carry Venables’ team when the offense falters.
Change may come with time as Venables brings in more talent and establishes himself as Oklahoma’s head coach. However, the drop-off from Lincoln Riley to the former Clemson defensive coordinator has been evident, and the SEC is capitalizing on it.