Oklahoma beginning quarterback Jackson Arnold is coming into the NCAA switch portal, sources informed ESPN on Wednesday.
Arnold can have two seasons of eligibility remaining at his subsequent faculty. The 6-foot-1, 210-pound sophomore from Denton, Texas, was the No. 3 recruit in the ESPN 300 for 2023 and began 10 video games over his two seasons with the Sooners.
Arnold threw for 1,421 yards on 63% passing with 12 touchdowns and three interceptions in his first season as Oklahoma’s starter and likewise rushed for 444 yards and three extra scores.
The preseason No. 16 Sooners went 6-6 of their first 12 months within the SEC whereas fighting accidents and inconsistency on offense. Oklahoma coach Brent Venables fired first-year offensive coordinator Seth Littrell after a 4-3 begin.
There’s anticipated to be important Power 4 curiosity in Arnold when he formally enters the portal Monday, the primary day underclassmen can switch throughout the winter portal window.
Arnold, a former Gatorade Player of the Year, served as Dillon Gabriel’s backup throughout his first season with the Sooners and was elevated to turn out to be their starter for his or her Alamo Bowl loss to Arizona in December.
Arnold was benched throughout the second quarter of Oklahoma’s 25-15 loss to Tennessee on Sept. 21 after three early turnovers in this system’s first SEC convention recreation. True freshman Michael Hawkins Jr. changed him to complete the sport and began the Sooners’ subsequent two convention video games in opposition to Auburn and Texas.
After Hawkins had three first-quarter turnovers in opposition to South Carolina, Arnold once more took over because the Sooners’ starter and held onto the job for the remainder of the season. Following the 35-9 dwelling loss to the Gamecocks, Venables fired Littrell and made co-OC Joe Jon Finley the interim playcaller on offense.
Arnold led the Sooners to a surprising 24-3 upset win over No. 7 Alabama on Nov. 23 to clinch bowl eligibility, speeding for a career-high 131 yards on 25 carries along with 68 passing yards on 9-of-11 passing.
The Sooners rank No. 94 nationally in scoring offense this season, averaging 21.2 factors per recreation in opposition to FBS opponents, and No. 126 in yards per play (4.8). That manufacturing represents a dramatic decline from a 10-win season in 2023.
Oklahoma’s projected prime 5 vast receivers — Deion Burks, Nic Anderson, Jalil Farooq, Jayden Gibson and Andrel Anthony — missed important time attributable to accidents. The Sooners additionally endured seasonlong struggles and damage setbacks alongside their offensive line, counting on eight completely different beginning lineup mixtures over 12 video games. Arnold was sacked 34 occasions on the 12 months, tied for sixth most amongst FBS quarterbacks.
Venables employed Washington State offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle on Monday and is anticipated to pursue a switch quarterback addition for subsequent season to interchange Arnold.
