Tag: Michael Hawkins Jr.

Michael Hawkins Jr. displaying unwavering demeanor as Sooners’ starting quarterback

Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. displaying the right mindset early in his tenure as the starting quarterback.

When the Oklahoma Sooners and the Texas Longhorns meet in the Red River Rivalry next Saturday, it will be one of the biggest games of the year. The Sooners look to pull off an upset over the No. 1 team in the country in the US LBM Coaches Poll. Though many overlook the Sooners against Texas, the program is trending in a better direction.

The offensive line is the healthiest it has been all year. The wide receiver room will likely have [autotag]Deion Burks[/autotag] back for OU-Texas. But what has given the Sooners more life has been the play of quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. He’ll make the second start of his career when the Sooners face the Longhorns, providing Hawkins with another big-time environment to overcome.

When meeting with the media this week, Brent Venables shared the mentality he wants Hawkins to continue to have heading into the big-time matchup in Dallas.

“You know, he’s got to not try to win the game in the first drive of the game, and play within the system, take care of the football. You do that. And you got good special teams, you got a good defense, and you can make some plays with guys around you. You have a chance to win each and every week.” Venables said. “Don’t want the moment the emotions of what that game means to everybody, emotions that will be in the stadium, the intensity to hijack the focus that it takes to have the details so we can execute at a really high level. Execution wins, not emotion, and not all the fans and everything else that’s going to be going.”

Through 1 1/2 games, Michael Hawkins doesn’t look like a player who gets caught up in the emotions of the game. He’s looked comfortable in the offense. He has played within himself, not trying to do too much or force plays that aren’t there.

He’s taken care of the football, and he’s provided some big plays along the way. Hawkins looks confident in what he’s doing and what he’s being asked to do.

In 2024, Hawkins is completing 62.2% of his passes for 310 yards. He’s thrown a touchdown and ran for a touchdown. If you take sack yardage out of the equation, as Pro Football Focus does, Hawkins has ran for 127 yards at 5.3 yards per carry this season.

He displayed an unwavering demeanor in his first meaningful action against Tennessee and Auburn. Thrown into the fire at the end of the first half while down 16 to the Volunteers, Hawkins orchestrated a couple of fourth-quarter touchdown drives to give the Sooners an opportunity to get back into the game.

On Saturday, in Auburn, Alabama, Hawkins was unfazed by the big-time SEC environment. When his team was down 11 and needed its quarterback to make a play, he completed a 60-yard bomb to J.J. Hester on a perfect throw down the sideline.

What’s allowed Hawkins to have success in his limited experience as the Sooners starting quarterback?

“He’s super consistent, he’s calm, really cerebral, he’s super coachable,” Venables said.

It’s a message that Hawkins reiterated ahead of the biggest game in his young career.

“Just being consistent,” Hawkins said after practice on Wednesday. “Focus on the little details that we need to get better at. Myself, focus on the things that I need to get better at going into this Texas game. Then, when next week comes, tune in on the game plan and get it going from there.”

Hawkins has shown he’s willing to do whatever it takes to win. He’s sacrificed his body at the goal line in back-to-back weeks to get the Sooners points. He’s also playing controlled football and looks like a player who understands the Sooners have a good team around him.

Against Texas, in a little more than a week, Hawkins and the Sooners will face their biggest test yet. But if the last two games are any indication, he won’t be rattled by the moment.

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Bob Stoops praises Sooners QB Michael Hawkins Jr. after win

Bob Stoops was impressed with Michael Hawkins Jr. in his first career start.

Oklahoma Sooners true freshman quarterback [autotag]Michael Hawkins Jr[/autotag]. has earned plenty of praise for his performance in OU’s come-from-behind win over the Auburn Tigers. Making his first career start at the collegiate level, Hawkins looked calm and under control, making the big plays when necessary to guide Oklahoma to the 27-21 win. His head coach, [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag], called him “fearless” after the game.

Another man who knows what it’s like to coach the Sooners weighed in with his opinion of Hawkins’ first-ever college start. That would be former OU head coach [autotag]Bob Stoops[/autotag], who spent 18 seasons running the show in Norman. He too was impressed with what he saw from Oklahoma’s new starting quarterback, giving the freshman high praise when he appeared on KREF Sports earlier this week.

“I though he was outstanding,” Stoops said. “He played within himself, played smart. I love the fact that in certain situations when nothing was there, he ate the ball. Sometimes you gotta do that, live to play another series and don’t make a big mistake. I thought overall that’s what he did. I said it right after the game, I said he was smart. He never forced anything and that’s what you do on the road. Sometimes you just gotta suck it up, eat the ball, punt and live to play another series.

As Stoops alluded to, Hawkins avoided making the big mistake that plagued the Sooners in the first half the week prior against Tennessee. Hawkins hasn’t turned the ball over once in the game-and-a-half of meaningful college football that he’s played.

The freshman went 10-for-15 for 161 yards passing, no touchdowns and no interceptions. He added 69 rushing yards, a touchdown and a two-point conversion on 14 carries without a fumble.

Oklahoma got its first conference win as a member of the [autotag]SEC[/autotag] in wild fashion, defeating the Tigers after trailing by 11 points in the fourth quarter. The Sooners now turn their attention to the bye week, before they’ll get ready to face the Texas Longhorns on October 12.

R Mason Thomas becoming Oklahoma Sooners closer

Oklahoma has benefitted from the late-game play of R Mason Thomas in 2024.

The Oklahoma Sooners nearly had the game slip away from them on Saturday against Auburn, but there wasn’t just one player who helped OU storm back to take the lead and hold off the Tigers.

Quarterback [autotag]Michael Hawkins Jr.[/autotag] shined in his first career start, providing the Sooners with enough big plays to get the win.

Linebacker [autotag]Kip Lewis[/autotag] made a play of the year candidate, intercepting a pass and returning it for 63 yards to give OU a lead it didn’t relinquish.

Safety [autotag]Robert Spears-Jennings[/autotag] had a pivotal sack that pushed Auburn’s offense back once the Sooners took the six-point lead.

But it was defensive end [autotag]R Mason Thomas[/autotag] who came up huge on back-to-back plays when the Sooners led by just three.

With the Tigers facing a third-and-5 at their 44-yard line with two minutes left, Thomas came around the edge and sacked Payton Thorne for a 6-yard loss. Head coach Hugh Freeze decided to roll the dice and try to pick up a fourth-and-11 and extend the drive.

Yet again, Thomas dealt a crushing blow to Auburn’s hopes. He chased Thorne all the way back to the Auburn 25, sacking the quarterback after it looked like Thorne might escape the pressure.

The two massive plays allowed OU to kick a field goal after Freeze was forced to burn his timeouts. Backup kicker [autotag]Zach Schmit[/autotag] drilled the ball through the uprights, and the Sooners held a six-point lead. The Tigers ran just five more plays, completing a Hail Mary well short of the end zone.

Thomas, who has become the best pass rusher on this team, stopped any momentum Auburn had, preventing the Tigers from getting anywhere close to field goal range. He had a similar performance a few weeks ago in OU’s win over Tulane, taking over in the late stages of that game when the Green Wave were trying to mount a comeback.

Oklahoma’s pass rush hasn’t gotten home very often this year. The Sooners have relied more on their run defense and sending extra defenders when it was time to get after the passer. Twice now, Thomas has risen to the occasion when the opponent had a chance to drive for a score at the end of the game.

The Sooners entered the season needing a “closer” to emerge from their defensive line. After five games, they may have found just that in Thomas.

Oklahoma Sooners get a bump in ESPN’s updated power rankings

Michael Hawkins Jr. and some huge defensive plays late in the game fueled the Sooners comeback win over Auburn and the Sooners earned a bump in ESPN’s latest power rankings.

The Oklahoma Sooners earned a much-needed win over the Auburn Tigers in a tough SEC environment. Heading into the bye week, OU football can feel better about the direction of the team and, in particular, the offense after [autotag]Michael Hawkins Jr.[/autotag] put together another strong performance in the win.

The stats don’t jump off the page, but Hawkins played the game the Sooners needed him to. He was efficient, completing 67% of his passes. He came through with several big plays, including a 48-yard touchdown run and a 60-yard completion to J.J. Hester to set up a critical fourth-quarter touchdown run by Jovantae Barnes.

Despite making his first start on the road, Hawkins didn’t put the ball in harm’s way and looked in complete control of the offense.

It was a confidence-building win for the Sooners, who moved up two spots in ESPN’s updated power rankings after Week 5.

Brent Venables called it Sooner Magic, and he certainly has a point. How else can you rationally explain what Oklahoma pulled off against Auburn? Down 21-10 early in the fourth quarter of its first SEC road test, the Sooners dug deep and played their best football late, rallying for a 27-21 victory.

New starting quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. sparked the rally with a 60-yard shot to J.J. Hester to set up the first score, and linebacker Kip Lewis made an epic play to flip the game, a 63-yard pick-six with less than 5 minutes left. Oklahoma needed this win in a lot of ways and found a way to get it done. That’s a confidence booster for this squad as it begins preparing for Texas and the Red River Rivalry. – Olson, ESPN

The Sooners came up with big plays in the biggest moments in their win over Auburn. It was a repeat of what we saw from Hawkins in the fourth quarter against Tennessee. But instead of having to climb out of a 19-3 hole, the Sooners were just down 11, and the defense helped him out with a go-ahead score.

But if it wasn’t for Hawkins’ dime to Hester to set up Jovantae Barnes’ rushing touchdown, who knows how the remainder of the game goes? The Sooners proved resilient to pick up their first SEC win. And it comes at a huge time as the Sooners enter the bye week ahead of the Red River Showdown in Week 7.

More: SEC Power Rankings after Week 5

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3 stars from Oklahoma’s electric comeback win on the road

It took a team effort to earn a comeback win on the road against the Auburn Tigers, but three Sooners earned this weeks 3 stars of the game.

Oklahoma showed tremendous grit on Saturday. It’s safe to say the win against Auburn will probably go down as one of the best wins of the Brent Venables era to this point.

Oklahoma looked dead in the water when Auburn extended its lead to 21-10 early in the fourth quarter. The Sooners appeared well on their way to back-to-back losses and an 0-2 start in its foray into the SEC. However, Venables’ team never stopped competing and did whatever was possible to make it a game. It eventually completed the comeback, and the Sooners returned to Norman for a much-needed bye week with their first SEC win.

As one would expect, the game had peaks and valleys. There was a long stretch in which Oklahoma’s offense looked lifeless or drives were killed by penalties. Auburn just imposed its will on a few defensive possessions by running the ball straight at Oklahoma’s strength in the front seven. Pair that with big plays allowed in the passing game, and the Sooners were ripe for defeat until several big plays in the fourth quarter turned the tide on the Tigers.

It took a team effort to pull out the win, but a few players stood out with their game-changing performances. Here are this week’s three stars from the win.

R Mason Thomas, Edge

R Mason Thomas is undoubtedly a star on the Oklahoma Sooners defense. He has filled a pass-rushing void that dates back to the departure of Nik Bonitto after the 2021 season. Brent Venables has a go-to pass rusher this team can rely upon come crunch time to end a drive or end a game.

His two sacks in the fourth were vital. Auburn was down three late in the game when it faced third-and-5 just after the two-minute timeout. There was plenty of time to mount a comeback. Oklahoma’s defense was worn out, but it was running on pure adrenaline and a will to win.

Off the snap, Thomas ducked around the left tackle and was on quarterback Payton Thorne in a hurry, recording the sack and setting up a fourth-and-11. On the next play, coming off the left side of the defense, Thomas brought the pressure to Thorne once again. The Auburn quarterback eluded the initial pressure, but Thomas hustled like crazy and circled back. With assistance from Gracen Halton, who kept Thorne in the pocket, Thomas brought the thunder for the sack and forced the turnover on downs.

Oklahoma killed some clock and kicked a field goal to extend its lead to six. But the game could have been far more stressful in the final two minutes without Thomas’ late-game heroics. For the second time in three weeks Thomas was the closer for the Sooners.

Up Next: Defender Saves the Game

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Where are the Oklahoma Sooners in the US LBM Coaches Poll after win over Auburn?

Where do the Oklahoma Sooners land in the latest US LBM Coaches Poll after their win over Auburn?

It’s amazing how a couple of plays can change the outcome of a game.

Heading into the fourth quarter, the Sooners’ offense had difficulty moving the ball against Auburn, and the Tigers’ offense controlled the clock. Then [autotag]Michael Hawkins Jr[/autotag]. hit J.J. Hester for a 60-yard strike on a perfectly placed deep ball down the right sideline. Hester was tackled inside the five, which set up Jovantae Barnes’ touchdown to pull the Sooners within five.

With the pressure mounting on Auburn’s next series, Payton Thorne was intercepted by linebacker Kip Lewis, who took it 63 yards for a go-ahead touchdown.

The Sooners earned their first win in the SEC in Hawkins’ first career start.

With the win, the Oklahoma Sooners moved up one spot in the latest US LBM Coaches Poll after their remarkable comeback.

The Sooners are the eighth-highest-ranked team in the SEC with the Texas Longhorns moving into the No. 1 spot in the nation two weeks ahead of the Red River Showdown. Alabama moved up to No. 2 with their win over Georgia. Ohio State comes in at No. 3 and Tennessee at No. 4. The Bulldogs dropped back to No. 5 after their loss to the Crimson Tide.

Here’s a look at the full US LBM Coaches Poll for Week 5.

Ranking Team Record Points
1 Texas Longhorns 5-0 1,339 (29)
2 Alabama Crimson Tide 4-0 1,330 (19)
3 Ohio State Buckeyes 4-0 1,281 (7)
4 Tennessee Vols 4-0 1,163
5 Georgia Bulldogs 3-1 1,153
6 Oregon Ducks 4-0 1,090
7 Penn State Nittany Lions 4-0 1,062
8 Miami Hurricanes 5-0 981
9 Missouri Tigers 4-0 948
10 Michigan Wolverines 4-1 792
11 Ole Miss Rebels 4-1 743
12 LSU Tigers 4-1 725
13 Notre Dame Fighting Irish 4-1 702
14 Clemson Tigers 3-1 671
15 USC Trojans 3-1 660
16 Iowa State Cyclones 4-0 500
17 Oklahoma Sooners 4-1 470
18 Utah Utes 4-1 408
19 BYU Cougars 5-0 375
20 Kansas State Wildcats 4-1 242
21 Texas A&M Aggies 4-1 198
22 Louisville Cardinals 3-1 197
23 UNLV Rebels 4-0 180
24 Indiana Hoosiers 5-0 143
25 Illinois Fighting Illini 4-1 122

Schools Dropped Out

No. 20 Oklahoma State;

Others Receiving Votes

Boise State 103; Pittsburgh 51; Arizona 44; Rutgers 35; Iowa 29; James Madison 25; Duke 22; Kentucky 17; Oklahoma State 15; SMU 14; Nebraska 12; Navy 9; Colorado 9; Boston College 6; Army West Point 3; UCF 2; Liberty 2; Tulane 1; South Carolina 1;

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‘Fearless’ Michael Hawkins Jr. shines in first career start

Michael Hawkins Jr. earned high praise from Brent Venables after his first start.

The Oklahoma Sooners pulled off a remarkable comeback on Saturday, handing out the first dose of “Sooner Magic” in the [autotag]SEC[/autotag]. OU trailed Auburn, 21-10, and looked headed for a second straight tough loss before [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag]’ Sooners roared back, scoring 17 unanswered points to win 27-21.

One of the undeniable heroes of the improbable victory was true freshman quarterback [autotag]Michael Hawkins Jr.[/autotag] After replacing Jackson Arnold and playing the first meaningful snaps of his collegiate career last week, he earned his first start at the college level against the Tigers.

Hawkins became the first true freshman QB at OU to make his first career start on the road since Troy Aikman lost at Kansas in 1984. Hawkins is the first Oklahoma true freshman QB to win on the road in his first career start. With the storied history the Sooners have at quarterback over 130 years, it’s not easy to do something that’s never been done before.

Hawkins certainly wasn’t perfect in his starting debut, as OU’s offense struggled mightily for most of the day. Hawkins went 10 for 15 in the air, adding 69 rushing yards and a touchdown on 14 carries. He pulled the ball down a lot, trusting his legs more than his arm at some points, but he was nonetheless impressive, considering he was making his first career start and missing his top five wide receivers.

Hawkins announced himself early. The Sooners faced a third-and-5 on the first drive of the day. After dropping back to pass, he darted up the middle of the field and broke away for a 48-yard touchdown run that gave OU the early lead.

But it was what Hawkins did late, helping save the Sooners on the road, that was the most impressive.

He started with a bomb down the right sideline to J.J. Hester, which began to turn the tide. OU has been looking to create explosive plays down the field, and Hawkins finally delivered. The drive ended with a Jovantae Barnes touchdown run that pulled OU within five points.

After Kip Lewis’ pick six gave OU a one-point lead, the Sooners went for two, trying to push the lead to a field goal. Hawkins was forced to improvise, avoiding multiple defenders in the pocket before darting to his right and toward the goal line. Just like last week against Tennessee, Hawkins was met by several Auburn defenders and took a big hit as he leaped for the goal line. Unlike last week, when he was ruled short, there was no doubt about this one. Hawkins landed in the end zone for the two points. He showed all kinds of guts and heart to get the Sooners those two points..

Hawkins continues to show his will to win, and as any coach will tell you, that is one of the most important qualities a QB can have. Hawkins has that in spades, displaying that he’ll do whatever it takes. After the game, Venables had high praise for his new starting quarterback.

“That’s a pretty strong litmus test right there. … He went right into the tiger’s den and was fearless,” the third-year head coach said.

As Oklahoma (4-1) enters the first of two bye weeks during the regular season, you have to think Hawkins has done more than enough to stay in the starting role through the bye and that he’ll be under center when the Sooners lace ’em up again in two weeks against Texas. Oklahoma’s win in Auburn isn’t possible without his performance in a very hostile environment.

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3 keys to an Oklahoma Sooners win over the Auburn Tigers

If the Oklahoma Sooners are going to beat Auburn, they must do these three things.

The Oklahoma Sooners (3-1, 0-1 SEC) took a tough loss last week against a good Tennessee Volunteers team. There were some good moments on both sides of the ball, and [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] and his crew are hoping to build on the good and correct what went wrong as they go on the road to face the Auburn Tigers (2-2, 0-1 SEC).

The Sooners come into the game riding a defense that is allowing just 14.8 points per game, which ranks 26th in the nation. They’re 28th in the nation in yardage allowed: 284.8 yards per game.

Though Auburn has turned the ball over a bunch, it has playmakers on offense that can threaten the Sooners’ defense.

In a reversal of fortune, it’s the Oklahoma offense that’s struggling. However, it is hoping for better production and ball security as it turns to true freshman quarterback [autotag]Michael Hawkins Jr[/autotag].

Given the Oklahoma Sooners schedule the rest of the way, this feels like a must-win football game. What does Oklahoma need to do to win on the road in the unfriendly confines of Jordan-Hare Stadium? Here are three keys to the game.

More: Sooners Wire Staff Predicts Oklahoma vs. Auburn

Up Next: Keys to the Game

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3 freshmen to watch for Oklahoma Sooners against Auburn Tigers

Who are three freshman players on OU’s depth chart to keep your eye on this week against Auburn?

The Oklahoma Sooners are 3-1. After beginning the year with three straight wins, they’re looking to get back into the win column following their first loss of the season last week. OU will head to Auburn for the first road game of the season and its first road game as a member of the [autotag]SEC[/autotag].

The Tigers are 2-2, having lost to Arkansas in Week 4. They’re looking for a bounce-back win as well.

With injuries galore for the Sooners, this game could be closer than previously expected.

Head coach [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] will look to young players all over the roster to step up at key positions. That includes some players who are playing their first season at the collegiate level.

Here’s your list of three true freshmen to watch in Week 5.

1. Michael Hawkins Jr., QB

[autotag]Michael Hawkins Jr.[/autotag] will become the first true freshman to make his first career start on the road for the Sooners since Troy Aikman in 1984. Aikman played very poorly in that game, and OU fell to Kansas.

Oklahoma fans are hoping for a different result on Saturday, as Hawkins takes over after [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag] was benched last week. The true freshman played his first meaningful snaps at this level last week and gave the struggling OU offense a bit of a spark late in the fourth quarter. It was too little too late, but Hawkins did enough to earn the start for the Auburn game.

Hawkins is a dual-threat at QB, but he will not have much help behind a shaky offensive line and without the top five wide receivers on the roster. If Hawkins can move the ball more effectively than what we’ve seen from Arnold and get the win, it’ll be considered a success, even if it isn’t pretty.

2. Zion Kearney, WR

True freshman wide receiver [autotag]Zion Kearney[/autotag] is one of the few healthy players left in OU’s wide receiver room that offer size. With Jayden Gibson, Jalil Farooq, Nic Anderson, Andrel Anthony and Deion Burks all out this week, Oklahoma will try to piece things together to give Hawkins someone to throw the ball to.

Kearney hasn’t received much run so far this season, but against the physical cornerbacks Auburn employs on the outside, a bigger body will be needed to create separation. Jaquaize Pettaway should get plenty more looks in the slot this week, and Oklahoma needs something from the duo of Brenen Thompson and J.J. Hester. Cornerback Jacobe Johnson made the switch to wideout to offer a potential solution.

Kearney and Hawkins came to Norman in the most recent recruiting class, along with Zion Ragins, Ivan Carreon, K.J. Daniels and Jacob Jordan. Maybe the chemistry of the freshmen can open the field up the passing game for the OU offense.

3. Reggie Powers III, DB

The loss of starting cheetah Kendel Dolby for the rest of the season is a big one for the Sooners. Dolby had begun to make the role his and had become an excellent player. Without him on the field, it’ll likely be Samuel Omosigho who steps up to be the starter, and Woodi Washington will probably see time there as well. OU is unsure if Dasan McCullough, who has played the position in the past, will be back this week.

One true freshman who could see a lot of snaps at cheetah on Saturday is [autotag]Reggie Powers III[/autotag]. He’s a versatile player on the back end of the defense, capable of playing safety or cheetah. Before last week’s game, he was listed third on the depth chart at the position behind Dolby and Omosigho.

Powers will certainly be tested whenever he’s in there, but his future is bright at OU as part of the next generation of the defensive backfield in Norman. Just like so many other parts of the roster, injuries are forcing players to step into roles where they may not be ready.

We’ll get to see what these true freshmen have as OU takes to the road in week five.

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Brent Venables shared more of what led to Dillon Gabriel’s departure

At Tuesday’s press conference, Brent Venables discussed what led to Dillon Gabriel’s departure.

In late November of 2021, the unexpected departure of then-head coach [autotag]Lincoln Riley[/autotag] sent shockwaves through the Oklahoma Sooners football program. Riley had been in charge for five seasons, inheriting the job from the legendary [autotag]Bob Stoops[/autotag] in the summer of 2017 when Stoops retired.

Riley’s decision to become the next head coach at USC is one of the biggest and most surprising decisions in recent college football history. But, the Sooners bounced back, hiring [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] one week later. Venables, a defensive savant, hired [autotag]Jeff Lebby[/autotag] to be his first offensive coordinator, but the duo needed a quarterback to run the offense.

The cupboard was pretty empty in that regard. [autotag]Spencer Rattler[/autotag], who had been OU’s starter entering the 2021 season, was benched halfway through the year. He entered the transfer portal the day after the regular season ended, the same day Riley’s defection to Southern Cal took place. [autotag]Caleb Williams[/autotag], who replaced Rattler under center, would enter the transfer portal later that winter and decided to follow Riley and become a Trojan. Suddenly, OU, the home of some of the best quarterbacks in the sport’s history, needed one desperately.

They found one in UCF transfer [autotag]Dillon Gabriel[/autotag], who was convinced by Lebby to forgo transferring to UCLA and instead come to Norman. The pair had worked together at UCF back in 2019 when Gabriel was a true freshman, and still had a very good relationship.

Gabriel arrived at OU and was immediately handed the starting gig as the only QB on the roster who had substantial college experience. Oklahoma struggled in 2022, going 6-7 in Venables’ first season at the helm. Gabriel and the offense showed some bright spots, but not enough to win more than six games.

In January of 2022, Lebby earned a commitment from [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag], a quarterback out of Denton, Texas. Lebby had offered him in December, and locked in the five-star phenom to be the quarterback of the future in Norman. A plan began to form, one that would be locked in when Arnold signed with the Sooners in December of 2022, and Gabriel elected to come back to Norman for the 2023 season.

The plan was simple and has been done plenty of times all over the country. Gabriel would start one more season in 2023, with Arnold sitting behind him and learning from the veteran mentor. Gabriel would go pro after the season, and Arnold would step into the role and lead the Sooners into the [autotag]SEC[/autotag] in 2024 and beyond. His talent, upside, and potential seemed limitless, and Oklahoma looked to have their next guy.

But despite an excellent year where he improved as a player and OU improved as a team, Gabriel didn’t earn the kind of NFL grade he expected. He decided to use his final year of eligibility and stay at the college level. It’s a decision that happens a lot in college football, and Gabriel shouldn’t be blamed in any way. He made the best choice for his career. In addition, his offensive coordinator wouldn’t be returning to OU in 2024, as Lebby took the head coaching position at Mississippi State in November of 2023.

That’s where an article by ESPN staff writer Eil Lederman comes into play, featuring quotes from Venables’ media availability earlier this week about the circumstances surrounding Gabriel’s transfer to Oregon this offseason.

According to the article, “Gabriel asked for a meeting in the days following Oklahoma’s 2023 regular-season finale against TCU. During the meeting, Venables said, Gabriel outlined his plans to enter the [autotag]transfer portal[/autotag] and to opt out of the Sooners’ Alamo Bowl matchup with Arizona, citing the departure of offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby and a desire to play closer to home among his reasons.”

Venables went on to say that it was Gabriel’s decision to transfer away from Oklahoma after not receiving the NFL grade he was looking for and that everyone was under the impression that Gabriel was going pro. The Hawaii native was also very far from home for two years in Oklahoma and is much closer now in Oregon. His close relationship with Lebby was instrumental in getting him to OU and their success together, and now Lebby had moved up in his career and wouldn’t be back.

“I did not know at that time that he wasn’t going to go to the NFL. … I didn’t even know I had to fight this fight,” Venables said. “I didn’t even realize that you were even considering coming back. And he says, ‘Yeah, but I just want to get closer to home.’ We hugged and shook hands. He was a little emotional and I was. It was all really good and positive … You can’t make a guy stay. The guy is trying to find the next thing; the next chapter for him. I’m sure there was probably some disappointment that (Gabriel) wasn’t more highly thought of in the NFL. He had an amazing year. He was a fantastic quarterback. But we didn’t run anybody off or things like that.”

Clearly, the two didn’t leave things on bad terms at all. Gabriel was asked about Venables’ comments this week and said, “Honestly, it’s so far gone; I just know God’s got me right where I need to be,” Gabriel said via OregonLive. “I got a smile on my face every day because I’m in Eugene, Oregon, around a bunch of great guys. Of course, those are guys (at Oklahoma) that are my brothers for life and guys I played with. It’s people I still talk to on the team — players-wise. You focus on what you can control and that’s right where I’m at. I’m happy. I know God put me right where I need to be, and I think that’s all that needs to be said.”

In an offseason story by The Athletic’s Christopher Kamrani (subscription required), Gabriel’s mom said that Arnold was another one of the motivating factors behind Gabriel’s departure. She said the former Sooners quarterback was concerned “Jackson might leave (if Gabriel stayed), and he didn’t want that for the program.”

So, saying that Gabriel was “cast off” by OU isn’t accurate. All parties involved (Gabriel and OU) felt they needed to do right by Arnold and own up to the promise that had been made and the plan that had been set up well in advance. Gabriel was actually helping the future of the program by not standing in the way of Arnold’s ascension to the starting role, which might have caused frustration in the younger player.

This discourse had reached a head this week because of OU’s poor start to the 2024 season, which culminated in Arnold being benched in the week four loss to Tennessee after three costly first-half turnovers. [autotag]Michael Hawkins Jr.[/autotag], who took Arnold’s place under center, has gotten the starting nod from Venables for week five against Auburn.

“Maybe this will give us a better chance moving forward,” Venables said. “I believe in Mike. I made that announcement for a lot of reasons. Certainly didn’t want a decision like that to hang over anyone’s head. We got to get better.”

Certainly, the Sooners have to get way better on offense. [autotag]Seth Littrell[/autotag] and [autotag]Joe Jon Finley[/autotag], who replaced Lebby, have got to do a much better job of putting the quarterbacks in a position to succeed. But from Venables’ comments this week, it’s clear that everyone was just following the plan and keeping their promises to Arnold. Gabriel made the call to leave for a number of reasons, all of which are perfectly valid.

There was no choice made between Gabriel and Arnold. There isn’t much of a world where Gabriel was going to be coming back to OU in 2024, especially without Lebby. Arnold was always going to be the starter this season, and the topic has only come up because he’s had an unexpectedly rough start to the year and has (at least for the time being) been replaced in the lineup.

“I expressed to Jackson that this is a moment,” Venables said Tuesday. “Jackson’s going to have an amazing future and career. He’s going to play this game (for) a long time. All of that will work itself out in due time.”

Arnold still has a very bright future. He’s got all of the tools you look for but has struggled in some areas through four games. The turnovers against the Vols are what made the decision for Venables, and maybe Hawkins can perform better in the role.

Whether it’s at Oklahoma or not, Arnold can turn things around and have a very strong career. For right now, the focus shifts to Hawkins, as the true freshman now has an incredible opportunity in front of him. If he can take hold of the starting role, he could be the guy under center for a long time in Norman.

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