Jackson Arnold details what he learned from in-game experience in 2023

Oklahoma quarterback Jackson Arnold has quite the challenge in front of him as a true sophomore, preparing to start for the Sooners in their first year as part of the SEC.

Brent Venables is dealing with quite the polar counter at QB this season, following up the extremely experienced Dillon Gabriel with the fresh-faced Arnold, who may offer high talent and tremendous upside but has one-tenth the live game action under his belt as Gabriel. And it’s no help the Sooners are headed into a new and challenging conference while also having some lingering questions on the offensive line.

Those are obstacles Arnold will tackle as the season progresses, if he must. But for now, he’s still just getting a hang of playing at the college level in his second summer. At SEC Media Days, he was asked how that transition has gone over one year, and Arnold said he’s definitely learned one big lesson.

“Just limiting the mistakes you make. In high school, you can kind of get away with things you can’t get away with in college,” he said while on the SEC Network set, explaining the kind of habits that have to change.

“You can make these extreme plays that, in college, you don’t need to make,” Arnold continued, noting how college can actually be a little bit simpler. “Just go out and execute, do what the coaches need you to do and you can go out and you’ll win games, man,” he added.

Arnold did get to see some valuable spot snaps throughout the season and says those spurts were critical for learning some key lessons.

“I feel like in the bowl game and even BYU a little bit, I tried to do too much, tried to overcompensate and that’s when the mistakes start happening, the turnovers start happening.”

So, as the summer progresses and the season gets closer and closer, Jackson Arnold is worried about just doing his job and not trying to do too much.

“Just learning to play in my realm and execute and do what I’m coached (to do) is a huge learning point for me,” he added.

It won’t be much longer before Oklahoma fans get to see what Jackson Arnold looks like as the Oklahoma QB1, as the Sooners are set to kick off 2024 on Aug. 30 with a matchup against Temple.

Jackson Arnold did struggle in his Alamo Bowl start against a great Arizona side, committing four turnovers (three interceptions) as he went 26-of-45 for 361 yards and two touchdowns.