ANALYSIS: Why Oklahoma is Searching for a Second QB in the 2024 Class

Michael Hawkins Jr., a 4-star quarterback in the 2024 class, committed to OU back in April.

Gaining a pledge from Hawkins Jr., the nation's No. 2 QB, according to Rivals, was a huge victory for the Sooners. In the past, Oklahoma would be done offering passers in the class after gaining a commitment from such a highly touted recruit.

After last season's game against Texas, however, Brent Venables and company have seen first hand how difficult college football can be with a lack of quarterback depth. After starting QB Dillon Gabriel missed the Red River Showdown last year, backup Davis Beville got the call but the Sooners were forced to put redshirt senior tight end Brayden Willis and other position players in the backfield to take snaps in a desperate wildcat formation.

During OU's first season in the SEC, Jackson Arnold and Hawkins are slated to be Oklahoma's only scholarship quarterbacks on the roster. The lack of experience and depth in that room, which would consist of two players who will have likely not seen much action until then, made Venables and company realize that adding another QB in the 2024 class would help the Sooners in more ways than one.

In addition to the depth that another signal caller would add to Jeff Lebby's quarterback room, bringing in a talented passer would increase the competition amongst all of OU's QBs.

So far, the Sooners' have been in on three other quarterbacks after earning a commitment from Hawkins.

The first player that Oklahoma had its sights set on was 4-star dual-threat QB Samaj Jones. A Philadelphia native, Jones is one of the top 10 quarterbacks in the country according to Rivals and ESPN.

Jones visited Norman and had the Sooners in his final four, but ended up committing to Cincinnati.

Now, Lebby and company are actively recruiting two other QBs and are likely looking at even more.

Trever Jackson, a fellow 4-star 2024 signal caller, received an offer from OU last week and Brendan Zurbrugg, a 3-star QB in the 2024 class, picked up an offer from Oklahoma earlier this week.

Jackson is also a top 10 quarterback in the upcoming recruiting cycle, per ESPN. The Jones High School (FL) product competed at the Elite 11 Finals in Los Angeles earlier this summer alongside Hawkins.

Landing the 4-star passer over schools like Texas A&M, Penn State and Mississippi would be a huge win on the recruiting trail for the Sooners.

Most recently, Oklahoma offered Zurbrugg, a 6-foot-4 dual-threat QB from Alliance, OH. Formerly a Syracuse commit, Zurbrugg flipped his commitment to Northwestern in late June.

Now, with some of the issues around the Wildcats' program, it would not be shocking to see the dual-sport athlete decommit once again.

Zurbrugg excels on the track, running a personal best 38.16 in the 300 meter hurdles and 14.60 in the 110 meter hurdles. The Alliance High School (OH) product has been named to the All-Ohio track team twice in his career.

After being offered by Oklahoma, Zurbrugg now holds 10 offers, including Kent State, Akron and Toledo, among others. As a junior last season, the 3-star prospect threw for 2,184 yards and 23 touchdowns, adding 804 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground.

With one talented passer already in the 2024 class, whoever else the Sooners are able to land in the upcoming cycle should be considered a victory on the recruiting trail for Venables and company.

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