Josh Heupel – Syndication Server

Can Jackson Arnold be the next great Oklahoma quarterback?

Being the quarterback at Oklahoma brings a lot of pressure and Jackson Arnold is ready to live up to the hype.

Being the starting quarterback at a blue-blood program brings a lot of pressure. Being the starting quarterback at a place like Oklahoma with all of its recent success is another animal all on its own.

That’s what [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag] is stepping into. He’s following [autotag]Josh Heupel[/autotag], [autotag]Jason White[/autotag], [autotag]Sam Bradford[/autotag], [autotag]Landry Jones[/autotag], [autotag]Baker Mayfield[/autotag], [autotag]Kyler Murray[/autotag], [autotag]Jalen Hurts[/autotag] and [autotag]Dillon Gabriel[/autotag].

That doesn’t even include the guys pre-2000 or even guys like [autotag]Spencer Rattler[/autotag] and [autotag]Caleb Williams[/autotag]who were extremely talented but finished their careers elsewhere.

Arnold spoke about how much that played into his decision to come to Oklahoma.

“It definitely impacted my decision,” Arnold said. “Just knowing the caliber of QBs that came before me and just knowing that I wanted to be a part of that group really stood out to me. Being in the lineage of Heisman winners is obviously something I want to join and follow those footsteps. This is the place that I wanted to be.”

The thing for Arnold is for him not to try to be too much like them and let that pressure get to him. Instead, he just needs to be himself. That’s what earned him five-star status. It’s why the expectations are so high for Arnold.

He’s got all the talent in the world to be a successful college quarterback. But so much of what goes into playing the position goes beyond the scouting report or the box score. But early in his career, Jackson Arnold has shown he’s capable of overcoming adversity. He’s made up of the right stuff. 2024 is the season we see Arnold have a breakout year.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Jaron on Twitter @JaronSpor.

Oklahoma’s SEC opener ‘season-defining’ for the Sooners in 2024

Tennessee’s visit to Norman will be historic for a plethora of reasons. A win would get the Sooners off to a great start in their debut season in the SEC.

After a never-ending wait, the Oklahoma Sooners are mere months away from their first season in the [autotag]SEC[/autotag]. They are in spring practice, laying the groundwork for Team 130’s journey into unchartered territory.

Next season will start with three consecutive home games, which will allow the Sooners to build confidence behind a new quarterback in [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag] and an offensive line that will need all the game reps to gel. But week four will provide the Sooners with a huge early-season test.

247Sports believes that Oklahoma’s first SEC game could define their 2024 season. The Sooners are set to host Tennessee, which already has added intrigue. Former Sooners quarterback and offensive coordinator [autotag]Josh Heupel[/autotag] will be making his first appearance in Norman since the two sides parted ways after the 2015 season. This provides an added flair for what will be an emotional and raucous game in the Sooners’ SEC debut.

Brad Crawford, college football analyst for 247Sports, said this about the game.

Golden opportunity. Why? The Sooners could be 3-0 and ranked inside the top 15 when the Volunteers stroll into Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium with a chance to make an early statement ahead of a trip to Auburn. How’s it going to look for the Sooners if they stub their toe at home against an equally-talented, ranked SEC opponent and get off on the wrong foot within the conference? The rest of the schedule is brutal for Brent Venables. He needs to take care of business at home. — Crawford, 247Sports

Crawford brings up valid points. There’s not much that separates Oklahoma and Tennessee in terms of talent. So, the outcome will be determined by execution and coaching.

It will be the biggest home game of Brent Venables’ tenure as head coach, so it will be interesting to see how the Sooners respond in the moment.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Bryant on Twitter @thatmanbryant.

Tennessee running back to miss remainder of spring practices

Tennessee running back will miss the remainder of spring football practices.

Tennessee scrimmaged for the first time during spring practices at Neyland Stadium on Wednesday.

Fourth-year head coach Josh Heupel met with media following the Vols’ scrimmage. He discussed sophomore running back Cameron Seldon being out for the remainder of spring practices.

“With Cam, unfortunate, just the early part of spring ball, had an injury to his shoulder, had surgery on it,” Heupel said. “We’ll kind of evaluate where we’re at as the rehab process gets started and base our decisions off of that and kind of where we project where he’s going to be.”

Heupel also discussed opportunities for other running backs with the 6-foot-2, 222-pound Seldon being out.

“D-Samp (Dylan Sampson) has been awesome with just energy, leadership, maturity and the understanding of our offense,” Heupel said. “The young guys continue to take steps forward.

“Khalifa (Keith) has done a really nice job. He’s been extremely physical, was today as well. I thought he finished going forward all the time. DeSean Bishop, a young guy that got nicked up last year, his growth inside of our program, for him to get back on the field and showcase his skillset, handled the rehab process extremely well and I love the competition that he’s brought. (Patrick) Wilk and Hunter (Barnes) have done a really nice job.”

Cameron Seldon. Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Josh Heupel discusses Lance Heard adjusting to new offense, environment

Josh Heupel discusses offensive line transfer Lance Heard adjusting to new offense and environment.

Tennessee kicked off spring practices on Monday at Anderson Training Center.

Sophomore Lance Heard took part in his first spring practice with the Vols. The 6-foot-6, 335-pound offensive lineman transferred from LSU to Tennessee on Jan. 21.

Following Tennessee’s first spring practice, fourth-year head coach Josh Heupel discussed Heard adjusting to a new offense and environment.

“He’s a really young player that played snaps and played well when he had the opportunity,” Heupel said. “He’s a young player that’s going to have to continue to grow. He has to develop and grow into being a pro in how he handles himself every single day.

“He’s been awesome inside of our building, developing relationships and how he’s competed every day. The guys that we took from the transfer portal, that recruitment happens really quickly, and it’s been a great group that has come in the building and tried to blend in and mesh into our team culture extremely quickly. They’ve handled themselves with a lot of maturity. He’s handled himself with maturity. On the field, he’s a young player that’s seven or eight months into his college football career. He’s just beginning his journey, fundamentals and technique, understanding what we are doing offensively and the communication that’s going to have to happen up front, and when we play with tempo, being able to function and operate within that. He’s in the beginning stages. He’s uber-talented and been great in the building. I expect him to grow a bunch here over the next 14 practices.”

Heard appeared in 12 games, including on start, for LSU in 2023.

PHOTOS: Tennessee kicks off 2024 spring football practices

Josh Heupel recaps Tennessee’s first spring practice

Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel recaps first spring practice.

2024 will be Tennessee’s fourth season under head coach Josh Heupel.

Heupel guided the Vols to a 27-12 (14-10 SEC) record from 2021-23.

Tennessee kicked off spring practices at Anderson Training Center on Monday in preparation for the 2024 campaign.

The Vols will conclude spring practices with its annual Orange & White Game on April 13 at Neyland Stadium.

The 2024 Orange & White Game will be held with limited capacity. Approximately 10,000 fans will be in attendance due to construction. The Orange & White Game will air live on SEC Network+ and across all Vol Network radio affiliates.

PHOTOS: Tennessee kicks off spring football practices

Following practice on Monday, Heupel met with media. His post-practice press conference can be watched below.

De’Rail Sims discusses Vols’ offense under Josh Heupel

Tennessee running backs coach De’Rail Sims discusses the Vols’ offense under Josh Heupel.

De’Rail Sims was hired as Tennessee’s running backs coach on Feb. 19.

Sims met with media on Monday for the first time while at Tennessee. He discussed his perception of Josh Heupel’s offense.

“My perception of the offense is that it’s always dynamic and physical in terms of the running game,” Sims said. “You sit here and you look at all of the different parts that go with it and the mechanics that make up this offense. It was always one of those ones that gave the defense issues from a lot of different areas.

“I know a lot of people just look at it from the tempo standpoint, but there are a lot of things that go into it that make it hard for the defense to have to defend. It was one of those ones that I wanted to learn, get used to and get comfortable with as well.”

READ: Everything De’Rail Sims said about Tennessee football ahead of spring practices

William Inge details why he was interested in joining Vols’ staff

Tennessee linebackers coach William Inge discusses why he joined the Vols’ coaching staff.

William Inge was hired as Tennessee’s linebackers coach on Feb. 21.

He came to Tennessee after serving as co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Washington from 2022-23.

Inge met with media at Tennessee for the first time on Monday. He discussed why he was interested in the Vols.

“Because No. 1, I know the history, the tradition and the branding that this place has with that Power T and what it all represents,” Inge said. “The recruiting that you can be able to do here, but also, I am a fan of coach (Josh) Heupel as well. Being able to see the things that he has done with his background and his record, and then, when we got to talking.

“I think, I knew that I could have a big impact here in the group with respect to my position, helping the defensive staff, the overall staff, helping our football team, and that was something that was important to me.”

Josh Heupel discusses hiring De’Rail Sims as running backs coach

Josh Heupel discusses hiring De’Rail Sims as Tennessee’s running backs coach.

De’Rail Sims was hired as Tennessee’s running backs coach on Monday.

He comes to Tennessee after serving in the same capacity at Cincinnati in 2023.

“We are excited to welcome De’Rail, his wife Lauren and his daughters Amayah and Alivia into the Tennessee football family,” Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel said. “De’Rail is an exceptionally bright coach with a track record of developing outstanding running back rooms and building relationships with his players.

“Our run game has been vital to who we are as a program, and I expect him to make a seamless transition in helping us continue that success. De’Rail also has the experience and knowledge of our recruiting footprint surrounding Tennessee. We look forward to him making an impact in our recruiting efforts.”

Sims also served as running backs coach at Louisville (2021-22), East Carolina (2019-20), James Madison (2016-18), Western Carolina (2013-15), Carson-Newman (2012) and Pikeville (2011).

PHOTOS: Tennessee running backs through the years

Coaches who would be ideal for Tennessee filling Jerry Mack’s offensive staff vacancy

Coaches who would be ideal for Tennessee football filling offensive staff vacancy after Jerry Mack leaves for the NFL.

Third-year Tennessee running backs coach Jerry Mack is reportedly joining Jacksonville in the NFL.

Mack came to Tennessee after serving as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Rice from 2018-20. He also coached in-state at Memphis in 2011 as wide receivers coach under head coach Larry Porter.

Josh Heupel will look to fill Mack’s vacancy ahead of spring practices entering his fourth season as the Vols’ head coach.

Heupel could promote from within, hire an outside coach or re-shuffle his staff.

Vols Wire looks at coaches who would be ideal in filling the vacancy. Below are outside hires who would be ideal in joining Heupel’s coaching staff in 2024.

Top 20 Oklahoma Sooners all-time in career passing yards

A look at the top 20 passers in Oklahoma Sooners history in career passing yards.

The Oklahoma Sooners have had their fair share of quality quarterback play over the years. That play has earned numerous All-American awards and four Heisman trophies.

Oklahoma has had success with a variety of offensive styles and quarterback play. That shows up when you look at the Sooners’ all-time leaders in career passing yards. Sure you have [autotag]Landry Jones[/autotag] and [autotag]Baker Mayfield[/autotag], who threw for more than 10,000 yards in their career with the Sooners. Then you have a player [autotag]Jamelle Holieway[/autotag] who is top 20 in both career passing yards and career rushing yards. Holieway and [autotag]Jack Mildren[/autotag] had more rushing touchdowns in their career than they did passing touchdowns.

There is one quarterback inside the top 10 all-time in career passing yards that didn’t play in the last 20 years and that guy is still with the Oklahoma Sooners: wide receivers coach [autotag]Cale Gundy[/autotag]. Gundy is No. 6 in career passing yards. Makes you wonder what kind of damage he could have done in a modern spread offense.

After two seasons in Norman, Dillon Gabriel was productive enough to enter the top 10 in career passing yards at the University of Oklahoma. His 55 passing touchdowns ranks fifth all-time and he finished tied for 17 in rushing touchdowns by a quarterback. Gabriel had a prolific career with Oklahoma and now will hope to have continued success with the Oregon Ducks.

Here’s a look at the top 20 Oklahoma Sooners in career passing yards.