The Oklahoma Sooners made an enormous change this week, with head coach Brent Venables asserting that the workforce will begin true freshman quarterback Michael Hawkins over former five-star Jackson Arnold for his or her Week 5 matchup towards the Auburn Tigers.
Hawkins, a four-star recruit within the Class of 2024, had been seen as part of the promising future at Oklahoma, however he started the season because the No. 2 behind the highly-touted Arnold, who was handed the keys to this system this offseason.
How did we get to this stage and what does Hawkins convey to the fold for the Sooners?
How we acquired right here
Final yr, the Sooners noticed a marked enchancment of their second yr beneath Brent Venables, enhancing from 6-7 in 2022 to 10-3 in 2023, incomes them a top-12 rating within the nation.
Venables had leaned on veteran quarterback Dillon Gabriel, who shined in his second yr with the Sooners, tossing for 3,660 yards, 30 touchdowns and simply six interceptions, whereas speeding for a whopping 12 scores as effectively.
Gabriel’s ascension as one in every of faculty soccer’s high quarterbacks created a dilemma for the Sooners, as that they had landed the highest signal-caller within the Class of 2023, five-star Jackson Arnold, who was anticipated to play prior to later at Oklahoma.
Gabriel finally elected to enter the switch portal earlier than the workforce’s bowl sport, paving the way in which for Arnold to earn the beginning job in 2024, which began again in final yr’s Alamo Bowl towards Arizona, the place the five-star threw for 361 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions in a 38-24 loss.
Venables revealed on Monday that the choice was Gabriel’s, slightly than the workforce forcing the veteran away from this system.
“You may’t make a man keep,” Venables stated about Gabriel. “The man is looking for the following factor; the following chapter for him. I’m certain there was most likely some disappointment that [Gabriel] wasn’t extra extremely considered within the NFL. He had an incredible yr. He was a improbable quarterback. However we didn’t run anyone off or issues like that.”
I didn’t know at the moment that he wasn’t going to go to the NFL,” Venables continued about his dialog with Gabriel on the time. “I didn’t even know I needed to combat this combat. I didn’t even understand that you just have been even contemplating coming again. And he says, ‘Yeah, however I simply wish to get nearer to residence’. We hugged and shook palms. He was just a little emotional and I used to be. It was all actually good and constructive.”
Arnold had excessive expectations getting into the yr, as he was part of the following wave of younger, highly-touted quarterbacks anticipated to take over for his or her respective applications this yr.
Wanting throughout the nation, groups resembling Tennessee (Nico Iamaleava), USC (Miller Moss), LSU (Garrett Nussmeier), Michigan (Davis Warren/Alex Orji), and Kansas State (Avery Johnson) all ended up shifting to inexperienced quarterbacks as they seemed to take care of a excessive degree of success. A few of these selections have confirmed to achieve success early on, whereas others have seen ups and downs to date.
Arnold is among the many group that confronted his fair proportion of ups and downs to start the season. After a four-touchdown efficiency in Oklahoma’s 51-3 win over Temple within the opener, the sophomore was inconsistent in Week 2, the place the Sooners confronted some surprising points, solely beating Houston 16-12.
Arnold accomplished simply 59.4 p.c of his passes in that win, whereas passing for 174 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception.
The accuracy points carried over to Week 3 versus Tulane, the place Arnold accomplished 62.1 p.c of his passes, whereas throwing for 169 yards, a landing, and an interception. He averaged simply 5.8 yards per throw within the sport.
Arnold’s benching happened this previous weekend in Oklahoma’s first lack of the season. Dealing with one of the best protection within the nation, the previous five-star couldn’t get something going, throwing for simply 54 yards and an interception, whereas finishing 7 of 16 passes for 54 yards. He additionally fumbled twice, with all of the turnovers coming within the first half.
Needing a spark, Venables turned to Hawkins with 1:40 remaining within the first half, and the true freshman took over from there, ending the sport out.
Hawkins’ story
When it got here to the 2024 season, true freshman quarterback Michael Hawkins could have been one of many extra ignored gamers on Oklahoma’s roster relationship again to the spring.
Coming into the offseason, it was clear that this was Jackson Arnold’s workforce, particularly after Dillon Gabriel entered the switch portal and the Sooners introduced in seventh-year senior Casey Thompson for some extra expertise to bridge the hole between the starter and the true freshman.
Nevertheless, Hawkins, who enrolled early, was one of many greater surprises for Oklahoma within the spring, profiting from his alternatives when working with the twos and particularly flashing together with his dual-threat potential that differed from the remainder of the roster.
Nonetheless, popping out of the spring, it was unclear whether or not the true freshman would supplant Thompson on the depth chart, given the most important hole in expertise between the 2.
However, as the autumn rolled alongside and Hawkins grew to become extra comfy, the spectacular true freshman was in a position to win the No. 2 job, though it was nonetheless clearly Arnold’s workforce heading into the season.
Now, bumps alongside the street are anticipated for any first-time starter on the faculty degree, however there was clearly a way of urgency from Brent Venables in making a quarterback change this early, with offensive coordinator Seth Littrell declaring the necessity for the signal-caller to handle the sport and execute after the workforce’s loss to Tennessee.
“My factor that I’m in search of is a man who can handle the sport and execute at a excessive degree,” Littrell stated. “I’m not saying that about anyone. I’m going to guage it for myself tomorrow. It begins with me. I acquired to make it possible for I consider each state of affairs. It’s what it’s.”
The transfer to Hawkins is a fast one, as Arnold acquired simply 5 video games of beginning expertise, together with the bowl sport, earlier than Oklahoma moved off the previous five-star quarterback in favor of one other younger, promising choice.
On this occasion, Hawkins made essentially the most of his alternatives, flashing sufficient within the spring and profitable the backup job within the fall to performing effectively sufficient when his identify was referred to as this previous Saturday.
Working in reduction of Arnold towards the hardest protection within the nation, Hawkins threw for 132 yards and a landing on 11 of 18 passing, whereas getting possibilities to work on the bottom as effectively. He was in a position to settle in in the course of the second half, finally main two landing drives for Oklahoma within the 25-15 loss.
Hawkins’s capability to scramble may very well be a significant added component for the Sooners, as they struggled with safety towards Tennessee.
“He’s an amazing athlete,” Venables stated of Hawkins after the sport. “There have been a number of instances there the place we had edge strain that we didn’t block and he acquired exterior of it. So he has some playmaking capability and he can harm you together with his legs.”
At this stage, the transfer seems to be the appropriate one for Oklahoma as they start a tricky SEC schedule, they usually want one of the best quarterback to assist them win video games presently.
Hawkins will get his shot towards the Auburn Tigers this week, incomes his first profession begin on the street for Oklahoma. He has a significant alternative forward of him to be the man for the Sooners going ahead.
Now, Venables nonetheless shared a vote of confidence for Arnold, noting that Saturday was a nasty sport however that the sophomore nonetheless has a ton of time to enhance and have a great collegiate profession the place he can accomplish all of his objectives.
“We wanted some stuff to go proper for us within the second half and never sufficient issues did. And also you be taught from it,” Venables stated. “Similar to I advised Jackson, ‘Man, that’s a nasty second, that’s a nasty evening. That’s not a nasty profession. So keep out of the gutter and give attention to getting higher.’ And that’s all of us.”
“ackson’s going to have an incredible future and profession. He’s going to play this sport a very long time and all of that may work itself out in due time.”
However, for now, that is Hawkins’s workforce, and his journey will start this Saturday towards Auburn, with kickoff slated for 3:30 p.m. ET.
