Michael Hawkins reacts to Jackson Arnold transfer: 'It is what it is'
Michael Hawkins Jr. and Jackson Arnold jockeyed for the right to be the starting quarterback of the Oklahoma Sooners throughout the 2024 campaign, but there was still a ton of love between the two athletes.
As Oklahoma prepares for the Armed Forces Bowl against Navy, Arnold decided to move on from Norman, entering the transfer portal and settling on Auburn as the team he’ll be joining. Afterwards, Hawkins reacted to his now-former teammate heading to the Tigers, and it’s evident he’s keeping a cool head about it.
“It is a little lonely,” Hawkins laughed, regarding the lack of depth the Sooners have at quarterback momentarily. “But you know, it is what it is. For sure.”
Arnold’s departure is one less hurdle left for Hawkins to clear to become the clear-cut quarterback of the future in Norman. While he balled out at times, his overall stats — 536 passing yards, one passing touchdown, two interceptions, 143 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown, left a bit to be desired at times.
Meanwhile, Arnold finished the 2024 campaign for the Sooners 154-of-246 passing for 1,421 yards and 12 touchdowns, against three interceptions. He also ran for 444 yards and three touchdowns.
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Perhaps with the pressure of playing against each other dissipated, Arnold and Hawkins can both flourish in 2025. It’s evident they’re supremely talented signal-callers, and despite their struggles, they were able to lead the Sooners to a bowl game during their first season in the SEC, which is nothing to scoff at.
If it all works out according to plan, Auburn and Oklahoma will see each other in 2025, as well. The Tigers are slated for a trip to Norman on Sept. 20 next season, so Arnold and Hawkins could go one-on-one in the former’s homecoming. That would be a heck of a story.
Time will tell how it all shakes out for Jackson Arnold and Michael Hawkins Jr., but the two quarterbacks will forever be compared due to their stint together in Norman, where the wore maroon and white and competed against one another for an entire campaign.