Oklahoma Sooners Head Coach Brent Venables has had a tough start to the season. The team sits at 4-2 after losing in the annual Red River Rivalry game this past weekend. Some key injuries, especially in the wide receiver room, have been a significant hindrance, as has poor quarterback play.
During the Week 4 Tennessee loss, Brent Venables benched starting quarterback Jackson Arnold for true freshman Michael Hawkins Jr. Arnold has now appeared in four games, the limit for a potential redshirt season. Venables has spoken about the situation with Arnold this week.
Sooners Head Coach Brent Venables Has Tough Discussions With Arnold
Oklahoma quarterback Jackson Arnold is in his second season with the team. As a true freshman in 2023, the hope was that he would redshirt. However, a concussion to starting quarterback at the time, Dillon Gabriel, in the penultimate regular season game against BYU meant Arnold was called upon, making it his fifth appearance of the season.
Arnold went on to start in the Alamo Bowl against Arizona, and despite throwing three interceptions, there was enough good that the expectation was he would be the starter in 2024. That looked to be confirmed throughout the offseason, with him joining Brent Venables and linebacker Danny Stutsman at the SEC Media Days.
The 2024 season has yet to go as Arnold had wanted, and now, with him featuring in just four games, Venables has discussed the future and his options. The Sooners head coach has been clear: if we put you in, we need you to help us win. Brent Venables has said he has been sensitive about the situation, but the feeling is that he doesn’t want to see him redshirt, as with six games still left in the season, he may still have an opportunity to come back in.
Since Arnold was benched in the first half against Tennessee and after five turnovers in the last three games, Michael Hawkins Jr. took over the quarterback duties. After a positive start in the Tennessee game, he continued as the starter against Auburn, guiding them to a 27-21 win. However, Hawkins struggled in the Texas game, and his lack of wide receiver options due to injuries didn’t help.
Brent Venables has confirmed that Hawkins deserves a body of work as the starter. So expect him to trot out for the first offensive drive against South Carolina this Saturday. Things can change quickly in college football, especially at the quarterback position. Arnold will need to consider the decision to redshirt, considering what is best for him and the team. The door is not closed on him being back as a starter, something that may stop him from redshirting.
Over the past weeks, we have seen a number of college players redshirt, giving them an opportunity to play another season of college football. Several of those players have used that opportunity to start looking for a new team, something Arnold could also do. Arnold will have two more seasons of eligibility if he doesn’t redshirt, which is the likely position he takes.
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