As we inch ever closer to 2023, Oklahoma is getting closer to finalizing its 2023 recruiting class. Only national signing day remains. As the calendar turns to the new year, the Sooners begin to finalize their 2024 big board.
The headliner for the 2023 class was consensus five-star quarterback Jackson Arnold. He’s the presumptive future of the program. However, the protocol under Venables and offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby is the Sooners will take a QB every class regardless of who QB1 is.
Enter Michael Hawkins. Hawkins, a four-star QB out of Allen High School, is one of the quarterbacks Oklahoma has been recruiting the heaviest for the class of 2024.
Hawkins is an Oklahoma legacy. His father played defensive back for the Sooners in 2002 before going on to the NFL. His defensive coordinator? Brent Venables.
Oklahoma is in a good spot for Hawkins’ services and has already received multiple projections in Oklahoma’s favor. Parker Thune of 247Sports dropped a crystal ball prediction in favor of the Sooners only minutes after the offer was announced. Their biggest competition right now is the Arkansas Razorbacks.
Michael Hawkins shared that he plans to commit on Jan. 31.
I will be announcing my commitment January 31st!! Stay tunedđź“Ś
— michael Hawkins (@mikehawkinsj) December 22, 2022
It firmly looks like a two-horse race between the Hogs and Sooners. Oklahoma probably feels most in control to land its first commit of the 2024 cycle.
Hawkins fits the mold of dual-threat quarterbacks that Lebby prefers in his up-tempo, no-huddle offense. He’s not a collegiate-ready QB yet, but Hawkins’ natural gifts and arm talent stand out on film, making him a great QB for the Sooners.
Though Allen’s season didn’t finish the way he would have liked, Hawkins’ leadership and determination stood out to Kyle Youmans of DallasCowboys.com, who was on the call for Allen High School’s playoff matchup with Duncanville. Youmans shared his thoughts with Sooners Wire managing editor John Williams on the “Locked On Sooners” podcast in December.
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