Nov 30, 2024; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA;  Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Jackson Arnold (11) passes against the LSU Tigers during the fourth quarter at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

Ex-Oklahoma QB Jackson Arnold commits to SEC rival Auburn

Jackson Arnold, a five-star quarterback prospect in the Class of 2023, is transferring to Auburn after two seasons at Oklahoma.

Auburn announced his signing on Saturday and said he becomes the highest-rated quarterback ever at the school, based on his recruiting ranking in high school. 247Sports listed him as the No. 4 quarterback and No. 10 overall player in his class coming out of Guyer High School in Denton, Texas.

He entered the NCAA transfer portal earlier this month.

“The fit he is for our offense and for Auburn, I couldn’t be more excited,” head coach Hugh Freeze told the school’s website. “He’s a dual-threat guy who understands the RPO (run-pass option) system extremely well and throws the deep ball extremely well.”

At Oklahoma, Arnold began the 2024 season as the starter, lost his spot and later regained it as the Sooners went 6-6. He completed 154 of 246 passes (62.6 percent) for 1,421 yards, 12 touchdowns and three interceptions in 10 games. He also ran the ball 150 times for 444 yards and three TDs, including 25 attempts for 131 yards in the Sooners’ 24-3 win over Alabama on Nov. 23.

As a freshman last season playing behind Dillon Gabriel, Arnold appeared in seven games and was 44 of 69 (63.8 percent) for 563 yards, four TDs and three picks.

“His deep ball has been very accurate,” Freeze told the website. “Didn’t throw a ton this year because they dealt with injuries at his previous school, so he didn’t have a lot of shots but going back and watching all his Elite 11 and high school competition, he throws the deep ball as well as you see at most any level.”

Freeze also said the 6-foot-1, 210-pound Arnold will bring other qualities to the program.

“A winner,” Freeze said. “He’s going to create a swagger around our offense that draws people to want to play at a higher level.”

–Field Level Media

Nov 30, 2024; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA;  Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Jackson Arnold (11) passes against the LSU Tigers during the fourth quarter at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

Reports: Oklahoma QB Jackson Arnold entering transfer portal

Oklahoma sophomore quarterback Jackson Arnold will enter the transfer portal, according to multiple reports on Wednesday.

A five-star recruit in 2023 out of Denton, Texas, Arnold began this season as the starter, lost his spot and later regained it as the Sooners went 6-6.

Monday is the first day that underclassmen can transfer during the winter portal window.

Arnold completed 154 of 246 passes (62.6 percent) for 1,421 yards, 12 touchdowns and three interceptions in 10 games. He also ran the ball 150 times for 444 yards and three TDs, including 25 attempts for 131 yards in the Sooners’ 24-3 win over Alabama on Nov. 23.

As a freshman last season playing behind Dillon Gabriel, Arnold appeared in seven games and was 44 of 69 (63.8 percent) for 563 yards, four TDs and three picks.

A former Gatorade Texas Player of the Year, Arnold started for Oklahoma in the Alamo Bowl last December, when the Sooners lost 38-24 to Arizona.

He was QB1 for the 2024 campaign, but three early turnovers caused him to be pulled in a 25-15 defeat to Tennessee on Sept. 21 and replaced by true freshman Michael Hawkins Jr.

Arnold came off the bench to replace Hawkins in a 35-9 loss to South Carolina on Oct. 19, and head coach Brent Venables afterward fired offensive coordinator Seth Littrell.

Co-offensive coordinator Joe Jon Finley became the interim play-caller. Venables filled the position permanently on Monday by hiring Washington State OC Ben Arbuckle, who could bring Cougars QB John Mateer with him to Norman, Okla.

–Field Level Media

Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Jackson Arnold (11) warms up before a college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the South Carolina Gamecocks at Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024.

Sooners QB Jackson Arnold enters game, burns redshirt

Oklahoma quarterback Jackson Arnold burned his redshirt when he replaced a struggling Michael Hawkins Jr. in the first quarter against South Carolina on Saturday.

Arnold’s fifth appearance this season means the former five-star prospect is no longer able to take a redshirt this season and is left with two years of eligibility after the 2024 season, according to NCAA rules.

Arnold, a sophomore, completed 61 of 102 passes for 538 yards, seven touchdowns and three interceptions in the first four games of the season, leading the Sooners to an early 3-1 record. He also rushed for 138 yards and a pair of scores.

Arnold last saw action on Sept. 21, when he was benched during a 25-15 home loss to then-No. 6 Tennessee after he hit on just 7 of 16 passes for 54 yards and an interception. Hawkins took over, throwing for 132 yards and a TD on 11-of-18 passing, and was named the starting quarterback for Saturday’s game.

However, the freshman was pulled for Arnold after committing turnovers in each of Oklahoma’s first three possessions against the Gamecocks.

Earlier this week, when discussing the possibility of redshirting Arnold, Oklahoma coach Brent Venables said the Sooners still have the sophomore passer in their plans this season.

“What was told to Jackson is if we put you in, it’s because we need you to help us go win,” Venables said Tuesday. “We’re certainly sensitive to everything. We’re not sitting here with our head in the sand or naive to what it is. But man, he’s a great teammate. He wants to be the starting quarterback at the University of Oklahoma.”

The Sooners entered Saturday’s game 4-2 overall, with a 1-2 conference record in their first season in the SEC.

–Field Level Media

Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Jackson Arnold (11) runs past Tennessee Volunteers defensive lineman Omarr Norman-Lott (55) during a college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Tennessee Volunteers at Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024.

Oklahoma benches QB Jackson Arnold, will start freshman vs. Auburn

Oklahoma is benching quarterback Jackson Arnold and turning to true freshman Michael Hawkins Jr. for its Saturday road game against Auburn, coach Brent Venables said Monday during his weekly coaches show.

Arnold, a sophomore, completed 61 of 102 passes for 538 yards, seven touchdowns and three interceptions in the first four games of the season, leading the Sooners to a 3-1 record. He also rushed for 138 yards and a pair of scores.

Oklahoma benched Arnold on Saturday during a 25-15 home loss to then-No. 6 Tennessee after the signal-caller hit on just 7 of 16 passes for 54 yards and a pick. Hawkins took over, throwing for 132 yards and a TD on 11-of-18 passing.

The Sooners, who were ranked 15th in the nation ahead of the meeting with the Volunteers, dropped to No. 21 this week.

Hawkins was rated as a three-star recruit by 247Sports.

–Field Level Media

Guyer quarterback Jackson Arnold (11) snaps the ball against Westlake during the Class 6A Division 2 State Championship game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Dec. 18, 2021. Westlake defeated Guyer 40-21.

Aem Westlake Vs Guyer 11

Oklahoma lands Top 10 QB Jackson Arnold for 2023

Oklahoma went into enemy territory to land the seventh best quarterback in the Class of 2023 as Jackson Arnold committed to the Sooners on Monday.

The 6-foot-1 Arnold out of Denton, Texas (Guyer HS) is a four-star QB rated the 72nd best player overall in the class, per 247Sports’ composite ranking.

Arnold chose OU over Alabama, Arkansas, Baylor and Cincinnati, among others. He posted his decision on Twitter.

He’s the first OU commitment since Brent Venables took over the program. He replaces Malachi Nelson, who withdrew his commitment and followed former coach Lincoln Riley to Southern Cal.

Arnold threw for 3,921 yards last season, leading Denton Guyer to the Texas 6A-DII State Championship game.

–Field Level Media