Jackson Arnold enters game vs. South Carolina, replaces Michael Hawkins Jr.

After finding himself on the sidelines the last few games, Oklahoma quarterback Jackson Arnold entered Saturday’s game against South Carolina. He replaced Michael Hawkins Jr., who was making his third straight start for OU.

Hawkins got off to a rough start to Saturday’s game, throwing an interception on the first play, which set up a South Carolina scoring drive. He stayed in the game on the ensuing possession, but fumbled on a sack as the Gamecocks took it back for a scoop-and-score to make it a 14-0 ballgame with 11:21 to play. Then, on the next drive, Hawkins threw a 66-yard pick-six to make it a 21-0 South Carolina lead.

Because it’s his fifth appearance of the season, Arnold is no longer able to take a redshirt. He officially came in the game with 9:24 to go in the first quarter following Hawkins’ pick-six.

Arnold began his sophomore year as the starter after Dillon Gabriel’s departure. However, he had an up-and-down go, completing 59.8% of his passes for 538 yards, seven touchdowns and three interceptions before Brent Venables made a change. Hawkins took over amid Arnold’s struggles against Tennessee as OU went on to suffer a 25-15 loss.

In that matchup, Arnold went 7-for-16 for 54 yards and an interception before the switch. Hawkins came in and completed 11 of 18 passes for 132 yards and a touchdown while also taking on a key role in the running game. All told, in his four appearances entering Saturday, he has thrown for 458 yards and a touchdown while adding 128 rushing yards and a score.

Venables spoke about the confidence he has in both quarterbacks earlier this week. He said he trusts both Arnold and Hawkins, and their best is yet to come.

“Completely, totally believe in them and I trust them and they’ve got their head down, they have humility, they’ve got work ethic, they’ve got great leadership qualities,” Venables said. “All the things you would want, arm talent. Both of them, to me, are the total package and all their best football is still in front of them.”

Jackson Arnold arrived on campus last year as a highly rated recruit out of Denton (TX) Guyer, where he was a Five Star Plus+ prospect. He was the No. 8 overall player from the 2023 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. Michael Hawkins is a true freshman, coming in as a four-star prospect and the No. 260 overall player from the 2024 class.