Detailing how Jackson Arnold has grown as a leader this offseason

BarkleyTruax

Syndication: The Oklahoman — Oklahoma's Jackson Arnold (10) throws a pass during a college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Arkansas State Red Wolves at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023. Oklahoma won 73-0.

Jackson Arnold is gearing up for his first season as Oklahoma‘s starting quarterback in 2024. While fans only were able to catch a glimpse of his talents as a true freshman, all accounts point toward vast improvents throughout the offseason.

Arnold logged one start last season, which came in the Valero Alamo Bowl game against Arizona. He was given a heavy workload during the matchup, throwing 45 passes for 361 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions in a losing effort against a ranked Wildcats squad.

While it wasn’t the most impressive showcase from the young quarterback in his first career start, it provided Arnold with a crucial experience to build off throughout the season. Sooner Scoop’s George Stoia III recently joined On3’s Kaiden Smith on the On3 Roundtable to discuss the areas in which Arnold has improved since that game.

“I think definitely his leadership, that’s something that certainly stands out,” Stoia told Smith. “Last year, it was Dillon Gabriel‘s team, and Jackson even said that leading up to the Alamo bowl, and after it that he felt like he was playing for Dillon’s team. And he struggled in that Alamo bowl game some, and he also showed a lot of flashes of the talent that he has. I think there’s a lot of belief in that building that he can be a great quarterback.”

Arnold looked improved during Oklahoma’s spring game in April, as he went 10 for 20 with 233 yards and a pair of touchdowns during the contest. He’s been given an entire spring and fall to add to his skills and develop chemistry with his teammates.

Oklahoma will kick off its 2024 regular season on Aug. 30 against Temple, but won’t make its debut in SEC play until matching up against Tennessee at home during Week 4. Matchups against Houston and Tulane in the meantime won’t necessarily serve as tune-up games for the Sooners but should give Arnold ample time to settle into his new role as starting quarterback.

Until Arnold is able to take the field next weekend for the season opener, Stoia left Sooners fans to think about two questions heading into the regular season opener.

“Can he be the leader that this team needs in such a big year in the SEC?” he asked. “And then number two, can he hold on to the ball and make the right decisions in big moments?”