Jackson Arnold opens up on relationship with Dillon Gabriel, other quarterbacks

Sooner fans got their first look at early-enrolled freshman quarterback Jackson Arnold on Saturday during Oklahoma‘s Red-White Spring Game. It was Arnold’s first time playing in front of a collegiate crowd, but it wasn’t for veteran starting quarterback Dillon Gabriel, and after the scrimmage, Arnold was asked about his relationship with the redshirt senior.

“If anything we’ve gotten closer, and that goes with all the quarterbacks in the room too, our quarterback room is extremely close, I’ve never seen anything like it,” Arnold said.

Gabriel was the starting quarterback at UCF prior to transferring to Oklahoma in 2022. He was named the Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year last season and will be looking to build on that heading into this season. Gabriel has made 25 starts in his collegiate career, a lot compared to Arnold’s zero in his, as he’s not only tasked with leading the Sooners’ offense, but grooming their potential quarterback of the future in the process.

“And with a room like that you can ask anybody for questions for anything honestly, if I have questions about a certain play or what somebody should be doing I can ask any one of them and get feedback from them,” Arnold explained.

Arnold was a five-star recruit out of Guyer high school in Texas, where he was ranked No. 4 quarterback in the nation and the No. 8 overall player in this year’s 2023 class according to On3’s Industry Ranking. He got off to a slow start in the Sooners’ spring game, but settled in eventually, completing 6 of 14 pass attempts for 64 yards and a game-tying touchdown strike to wide receiver Gavin Freeman.

“Even after my own drives, what did I do wrong? Teach me, help me get better, and we’re all there for each other and I love that about our quarterback room,” Arnold said.

Arnold’s willingness to learn is a great sign for the Sooners, as he’ll more than likely play behind Gabriel this season with the opportunity to learn and develop. Gabriel himself looked particularly mobile during the spring game and went 11 for 17 with 140 yards, three touchdowns, and an interception. He ranked second in the Big 12 last season in passing yards and touchdowns, and can surely teach Arnold a thing or two moving forward this offseason.