Next Generation, Part 2: Which Five Freshmen Will Impact Oklahoma in 2023?
Part two of a series in which AllSooners examines five true freshmen who should make an impact on Oklahoma’s 2023 football season:
If Jackson Arnold plays meaningful snaps in 2023, something will have gone horribly wrong at Oklahoma.
Arnold is the Sooners’ talented freshman quarterback, a 5-star prospect from nearby Denton, TX, the future “face of Oklahoma,” his position coach says.
But he’s also OU’s backup. He’ll play if something happens to returning starter Dillon Gabriel — or if Gabriel experiences a roller coaster senior season.
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That’s what makes Arnold’s first season in Norman so crucial: he’s projected to be the starting QB in 2024, when the Sooners join the Southeastern Conference, so he needs to be as ready as possible. He needs to feel the heat, taste the pressure and live the danger before Alabama comes to town next fall.
But for a championship program coming off a 6-7 season, there’s little room for patience at the quarterback position.
“A little nervous, as expected,” Arnold said, “but not scared to go in. You know, I think that's a big thing for me is just kind of going in with confidence knowing that I belong in a place like that and just going in and learning as much as I can.”
Jeff Lebby, the Sooners’ quarterbacks coach, said last winter and throughout spring football practice that Arnold has been “strong” and “loyal” and “about his business.” That loyalty, from his commitment in January 2022 to now, never wavered as the Sooners stumbled through Venables first season.
“I’ve never been so comfortable around a coach as I've been around Coach Lebby,” Arnold said. “Ever since the first time I met him at Ole Miss … I'm just super happy that I chose to ride with Coach Lebby.”
Jackson Arnold
NATHAN J. FISH/THE OKLAHOMAN-USA TODAY NETWORK
Gabriel’s initial season at OU had its peaks and valleys and ultimately ended with some impressive statistics. But as someone who had played in Lebby’s offense in 2019 at UCF, his real value was on display in the second half against TCU (a 55-24 loss) and the entire game against Texas (a 49-0 loss): Gabriel didn’t play and the Sooners didn’t score.
Arnold represents an upgrade in the OU quarterback room, so maybe such a drought wouldn’t happen again if something happens to Gabriel in 2023. But the ideal path for Arnold this year would be to mop up games after the scoreboard becomes lopsided, play maybe a first-half series or two here and there, and spend as much time in the film room as possible asking questions.
That said, Arnold already has been working hard and studying long hours. He knows his moment will come, whether it’s as the backup in 2023 or as the starter in 2024 — and he wants to be ready.
That’s why after the spring game he said “I feel really good compared to January” in terms of knowing the offense.
“I’ve come a long way and I feel really comfortable,” he said.
“Jackson's taken tremendous steps toward getting way better,” said sophomore receiver Gavin Freeman.
Head coach Brent Venables was at Clemson when Trevor Lawrence came off the bench to take over the starting job — and led the Tigers to a national championship as a true freshman. He also was at Clemson when DaShaun Watson took them to a national title his junior season, and was in Norman when Sam Bradford guided his team to the title game as a third-year sophomore.
There's a quality all three guys showed early in their career that Venables values.
“Reacting on instinct,” Venables said. “That’s what you’re looking for. Here comes the pressure, they know it’s coming — do they cave in or do they stand there strong, and are they delivering the ball?”
Is that a quality Arnold displayed in spring practice?
“Seen that several times,” Venables said, “both in (pass skeleton) and in 11-on-11. And then of course he brings an element running the ball, making decisions on when to pull it down, when to keep your eyes down the field, extend plays. So, seen a little bit of all of that. And again, seen some stuff, great teaching moments, which is the natural progression as well. But he’s had a really good strong couple of weeks, and some great opportunities to learn and grow.”
Jackson Arnold at practice in Orlando.
John E. Hoover / AllSooners
After earning High School All-America accolades at Denton Guyer, Arnold stood out during his week of practice at the Under Armour All-American Game in Orlando in early January. He showed a quick, snap release and a powerful arm, of course, as well as quick feet and explosive athletic ability. But he also showed natural leadership among his teammates, and was often scene soaking up knowledge from the UA coaching staff.
Arnold said early on — before he even got to Oklahoma, after he got there and started doing interviews in February, and several times throughout spring practice — that he didn’t have any illusions he would unseat Gabriel. If it happens, it’ll happen naturally. But that’s not the plan.
The plan, he said, is to keep learning as much as he can from the Sooners’ incumbent starter — and he’s learned a lot from Gabriel so far.
“Just how calm and poised he is in the pocket,” Arnold said. “He doesn’t get flustered too much. He’s very, very good in the pocket and just kind of getting through his reads; if a read isn’t there, he’s going to get down to his back and just kind of work through the plays. And just keeping the ball away from the defense. He’s preventing turnovers at all costs.”
To his credit, Arnold said he’s learned from more than just Gabriel. He’s also picked up tips from last year’s backup, Davis Beville, and reserve General Booty. That’s a sign that he’s serious about making himself better.
“Learning this offense isn’t easy at all,” he said, “and having somebody like Dillon and the rest of the quarterbacks in the room, Davis and General — being able to ask them a question in meetings about something I don’t quite understand has been really helpful so far.”
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