NORMAN, Okla. — Jackson Arnold was expected to be the next big thing at Oklahoma, another great quarterback at a school that produced Heisman Trophy winners Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray and featured stars Dillon Gabriel, Jalen Hurts, Spencer Rattler and Caleb Williams at the position during the past decade.
Arnold, who signed with the Sooners as a five-star recruit from Texas, had as much hype as any of them. And when Gabriel decided to transfer to Oregon ahead of the 2024 season, Arnold seemingly had the chance to turn his immense potential into results.
It simply didn’t work. Arnold struggled as injuries besieged the Sooners. He lost his starting job early in the season, then won it back. He ran for more than 100 yards in a shocking win over Alabama in late November, but that wasn’t enough to keep him from transferring to fellow Southeastern Conference program Auburn.
The new scenery has treated Arnold well. Now refreshed, he has led the Tigers to a 3-0 start. He’ll return to Oklahoma as the opposing quarterback when No. 22 Auburn visits the 11th-ranked Sooners (3-0) on Saturday in the SEC opener for both teams.
Arnold said he’ll be focused, and that blocking any outside noise won’t be a problem because he’s not on social media.