The Oklahoma Sooners and coach Brent Venables will start quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr moving forward against Auburn.
The Tigers are 2-2 to start the 2024 season, with losses to Cal and Arkansas but wins over Alabama A&M and New Mexico. Auburn has had quite the quarterback carousel, and may make another change before playing the Sooners. Oklahoma, on the other hand, is going to give Hawkins Jr the chance he deserves.
Hawkins Jr played in relief of starting quarterback Jackson Arnold against the Tennessee Volunteers in the loss. The quarterback recorded a touchdown and found a way to move the offense, which Arnold was unable to do. Quarterback Dillon Gabriel left Oklahoma to presumably make room for Arnold, and now Arnold has hit the bench before the fifth game of the season.
Quite a lot has gone wrong for Arnold and while the offensive line is partially to blame, the quarterback has not looked comfortable. Confidence is key as a quarterback but with a spotty offensive line it has been something that Arnold has struggled with the start the season. During his worst performance of his collegiate career, the Oklahoma staff and coach Venables decided they had enough.
Imagine you were one of the ones trying to convince me Jackson Arnold was a top tier QB
The Alamo Bowl told me all I needed to know
Freshman Michael Hawkins getting the start vs Auburn
— The Shining Moment (@cbbfreak) September 24, 2024
Hawkins Jr, a true freshman scrambling quarterback, will be the starter for the Sooners against the Tigers. The quarterback certainly does not benefit from a weak offensive line, but has the speed to avoid incoming sackers and make positive plays.
The dynamic addition to the offense that is Hawkins Jr could allow for the Sooners to truly blossom. However, time will tell as the same was also said about former starting quarterback Arnold along the way.
Oklahoma Sooners Set to Start Michael Hawkins Jr Against Auburn Tigers
While Hawkins Jr is set to start against Auburn, that does not mean that the time with the Sooners is over for Arnold.
Community Note: Michael Hawkins was in fact better than him.
— nobody² (@Lulziathin) September 24, 2024
There is still plenty of season left for Oklahoma and many players still have a chance to prove how valuable they are to the program. The same can be said for Arnold, who will now have to wait his turn and then strike like Hawkins Jr did.
Auburn is currently allowing 16.7-points per game on defense with an outlier game against Alabama A&M, where the defense allowed just three-points. In the three real games, the Tigers have allowed 21.3-points per game and the defense has played solid overall.
Auburn is a team that the Sooners will likely not be able to run over, but will need to rely on the defense against. The Tigers offense has been weak to start the 2024 season with both quarterbacks Payton Thorne and Hank Brown at the helm. Brown had a great game for the Tigers, followed up by a three interception mid-game benching.
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