It’s a new era of quarterback play at the University of Oklahoma. A program that has earned the right to be called QBU will unleash its third five-star quarterback prospect since 2021 when Jackson Arnold steps on the field in Week 1 against Temple.
Like the previous five-star quarterbacks, [autotag]Spencer Rattler[/autotag] and [autotag]Caleb Williams[/autotag], Arnold has tremendous talent and upside. But with limited experience entering the season, a great deal of growth has to take place on the fly for the Oklahoma Sooners to contend in the SEC.
Thomas Jones of the Austin American Statesman ranked every SEC quarterback situation heading into the 2024 season, and Arnold and the Oklahoma Sooners landed at No. 9.
Sophomore [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag], a former blue-chip recruit from Denton, steps into the starting role after [autotag]Dillon Gabriel[/autotag] transferred to Oregon. If Arnold stumbles in his first season as a starter, the Sooners can turn to a familiar face for Texas fans in Casey Thompson, a former Longhorns’ starter and an Oklahoma native who’s completing a six-year career arc. But Oklahoma fans probably would rather not see Thompson even though his father, Charles, served as a legendary wishbone quarterback for the Sooners in the 1980s. The 6-1, 210-pound Arnold has a big arm with good mobility and can make every throw, and he’s flashed the star power that seems to characterize most signal callers for the Sooners. – Jones, Austin American Statesman
Georgia’s Carson Beck and Texas‘ Quinn Ewers take the top two spots, according to Jones. They’re followed by Jalen Milroe of Alabama, Jaxson Dart of Ole Miss and Brady Cook of Missouri.
Arnold comes in behind LSU and Tennessee, which are also breaking in new starting quarterbacks. Jones ranks Arnold behind Florida and either Graham Mertz or D.J. Lagway.
The Alamo Bowl performance has really clouded people’s views of Arnold entering the 2024 season. People forget he was one of the best quarterbacks in the country coming out of high school and was only a true freshman last year.
They forget that from September to that late December game, Arnold didn’t really get unleashed to fully run the offense. Sure, he played against BYU, but Jeff Lebby’s risk aversion kept the reins tightly on the former Elite 11 winner. Yes, Arnold turned the ball over four times. He still threw for 380 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He showed poise to stand in the pocket and deliver strikes down the field.
An offseason spent getting all of the first-team reps will have Arnold better prepared to take on the SEC. He’s as talented a quarterback in the country. He simply has to prove it.
Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes and opinions. You can also follow John on X @john9williams.