Former Oklahoma Sooners QB impressing in spring football
Former Oklahoma Sooners starting quarterback Jackson Arnold didn't have the career anyone expected he'd carve out in Norman. Now, he's trying to rebound at Auburn, and he's impressed his new head coach in the process.
After head coach Brent Venables hired Ben Arbuckle as the Sooners' new offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach this winter, Arnold entered the transfer portal, hoping to get his career back on track with the Tigers.
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So far this spring, it seems that Arnold could be well on his way to doing so. His new head coach, Hugh Freeze, has been impressed with the junior quarterback's performance in spring ball. Freeze appeared on "The Paul Finebaum Show" and praised Arnold's play.
"He obviously has all the tools to be one of the top quarterbacks in the nation," Freeze said. "He's got the arm talent, he's got the legs, he's got the football IQ. I think he just needs confidence, and I think that confidence grew this spring, along with his rapport with our receivers."
Confidence, along with turnovers, was one of the biggest things that seemed to hold Arnold back in Norman. At times, it seemed the pressure of being the starting quarterback at a place like Oklahoma got to him. His performances in winnable games against Tennessee and Missouri left Sooner Nation wanting more out of the position.
Arnold, a former five-star prospect in the 2023 recruiting class, signed with OU out of Denton Guyer High School in Texas after winning the Elite 11 Finals and being named the Gatorade National Player of the Year for 2022. He sat behind Dillon Gabriel in 2023, before being handed the reins of the Sooners in 2024. He was expected to become the next great OU quarterback.
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Instead, Arnold struggled mightily over just 10 career starts in crimson and cream, winning only five games. He was benched, re-inserted into the lineup, saw his offensive coordinator Seth Littrell get fired, and led Oklahoma to a dismal 6-7 record in Year 1 in the SEC. His team-leading passing yardage total was the lowest for an Oklahoma QB since 1998.
But perhaps a change of scenery will be just what Arnold needs. The split between he and the Sooners was in no way contentious, but maybe both sides will benefit. Arnold gets a new start at Auburn, where he still has the opportunity to prove himself in the country's toughest conference. Meanwhile, Oklahoma upgraded in a big way under center with John Mateer, who Sooner fans hope truly is the next great OU quarterback.
Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Aaron on X @Aaron_Gelvin.
This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Auburn head coach praises former Sooners QB Jackson Arnold
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