Brent Venables addresses potential redshirt, transfer for Oklahoma QB Jackson Arnold

Brent Venables revealed a fascinating tidbit of information regarding the rest of Jackson Arnold’s 2024 season with the Oklahoma Sooners.

While Arnold came into the campaign expecting to be the next great quarterback in Norman, it didn’t work out that way, and Michael Hawkins Jr. has been starting for the Sooners. The possibility of redshirting has come to light for Arnold with him not seeing any game action over the last couple of weeks, and Venables shed some light on whether that’s a road the quarterback will travel down.

“He wants to be the starting quarterback at the University of Oklahoma,” Venables said of Arnold, stating that Oklahoma has discussed redshirting the quarterback this season, via George Stoia III of Sooner Scoop. “I feel like it’s only right to give Mike the opportunity a chance to be the guy and have a body of work.”

As you can tell, Venables is sticking with Hawkins Jr. as the starting quarterback for the Sooners, while adding that Arnold may simply have to take it on the chin in 2024. That’s not to say he doesn’t have a bright future in Norman, but if he’s not going to play, there’s no sense in wasting a season’s worth of eligibility.

Additionally, Venables shared about a conversation he’s had with Arnold regarding potentially redshirting: “It’s been discussed between us. What was told Jackson is if we put you in, it’s because we need you to help us go win,” Venables said. “We’re certainly sensitive to everything. We’re not sitting with our head in the sand or naive to what it is. But he’s a great teammate, and he wants to be the starting quarterback of the University of Oklahoma.”

Moreover, the aforementioned Hawkins finished the matchup this past weekend against the Texas Longhorns with a stat-sheet of 19-for-30, amassing 148 yards and not throwing an interception nor touchdown. He also added 27 rushing yards to his total on 20 attempts, never finding a rhythm against the tough defense.

Trailing 21-3 at halftime, many wondered whether it may be time for Venables to go back to Arnold, but instead he elected to keep Hawkins in the game. The Sooners were subsequently shut out during the final two quarters and Arnold did not see the field.

Heading into Week 8, Arnold is still the team’s leading passer with 538 passing yards and seven touchdowns. Hawkins Jr. has thrown one touchdwon pass (none in the past two weeks) and thrown for 458 yards in his two and a half games as the main quarterback. 

Arnold is also the team’s second-leading rusher with 138 yards and a pair of touchdowns compared to Hawkins Jr.’s 128 and one touchdown.

Looking ahead, the Sooners’ next matchup will be a homestand against the South Carolina Gamecocks with all signs pointing toward Michael Hawkins Jr. making the start under center. Opening kickoff is scheduled for 12:45 p.m. ET and will air live on the SEC Network, while the future remains uncertain for Jackson Arnold.

On3’s Barkley Truax contributed to this article.