Jackson Arnold likely would have been gone had Dillon Gabriel returned

[OU Guy]

Berry Tramel

The Jackson Arnold Era begins with the Dec. 28 Alamo Bowl against Arizona. And in his first interview since being knighted as the Sooner quarterback, Arnold didn’t blow smoke. He admitted his own future was on hold until Gabriel made a decision.

NORMAN — Jackson Arnold says he was a little like the rest of us. Just waiting to find out what Dillon Gabriel was going to do about the 2024 football season.

Welcome to modern college football.

Gabriel, OU’s starting quarterback the last two seasons, announced last week he was entering the transfer portal and a few days later became an Oregon Duck.

That means the Arnold Era begins with the Dec. 28 Alamo Bowl against Arizona. And Tuesday, in his first interview since being knighted as the Sooner quarterback, Arnold didn’t blow smoke.

He admitted his own future was on hold until Gabriel made a decision.

“I was waiting on his decision,” Arnold said. “I didn’t know where he was going to go with his decision; portal or NFL or coming back another year. I really didn’t know.

“I’m super happy for Dillon and he’s got a great opportunity and a great future ahead of him.”

Uh, the same appears to be the case for Arnold. But if Gabriel had come back for a third Sooner season, seems likely Arnold’s great opportunity and great future would be elsewhere.

“You know, I would’ve had to evaluate where I was at here for sure,” Arnold said on the OU practice field. “I was not swayed either which way on what I would’ve done, but obviously when something like that happens you have to take a step back and see.”

Impressive talk from Arnold, who didn’t try to sell us snake oil. Of course Arnold would have had to assess his situation. Almost certainly he would have been gone. Quarterback prospects like this aren’t in the habit of sitting around two years, waiting to play. The transfer portal gives them too many options; the name, image, likeness bonanza gives them too many carrots to chase.

But the OU coaching staff’s apparent preference for Arnold is a rousing endorsement for the true freshman from Denton, Texas.

“Having the coaches’ trust is a huge thing for me,” Arnold said.

Arnold is an impressive personality, especially for a 19-year-old. He’s not cocky or gregarious, but he is confident and personable. He didn’t duck tough questions. Arnold seems to be the total package, so long as he can play, and early indications are that he most definitely can play.

Arnold feels fortified by what he says will be an Alamo Bowl gameplan unchanged from what we would have seen with Gabriel.

“Knowing that the coaches are trusting of me to go out and perform my best, and they’re not changing the game plan whatsoever, we’re running the same stuff,” Arnold said. “We would’ve run the same stuff if Dillon was here too, so just that trust they have in me is really special to me.”

Arnold won’t be quarterbacking a well-tuned roadster in San Antonio. The transfer portal and early defections to the NFL Draft means OU’s offense will be short-handed at both tailback and on the offensive line. Plus offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby is off to Mississippi State as head coach, with Seth Littrell moving up.

Not ideal for breaking in a new quarterback, a freshman to boot, but again, that’s college football 2023. Deal with it.

“I’ve watched Jackson since he’s been here,” said OU receiver Jalil Farooq. “I’ve watched him grow up. Him stepping up in the room, I’m very excited to see him play in the bowl game. I can’t wait until he showcases his talent. He’s a great dude, a great leader. He can sling it.”

The Sooners can’t seem to have a normal Alamo Bowl. They went to San Antonio two years ago with an interim head coach, Bob Stoops, with Brent Venables waiting in the wings, and with a quarterback, Caleb Williams, who was out the door even though we didn’t know it. Offensive assistant Cale Gundy was the interim coordinator for that 47-32 victory over Oregon.

Now the Sooners play Arizona with their head coach in place, but with a new coordinator and a new quarterback. Welcome to the new world bowl order.

“The first two practices, yesterday and the day before, were a little off, you know, having a new OC, not having DIllon here,” Arnold said. “The energy was off a little bit, but I think today was big for us as a group getting our mojo back and kind of getting things rolling around.”

How could things not be off? Gabriel gone. Lebby gone. Others gone. It’s not necessarily a different season, but it’s like a new team. A new team quarterbacked by a true freshman.

“It’s a weird position for me to now step up and be a leader in that position,” Arnold said “Now I feel like I have to step up and be a vocal leader and be the glue for this offense in the bowl game.”

Arnold seems capable.

“He’s definitely a leader,” said tailback Gavin Sawchuk. “It’s easy to tell when you’re around people that are just there to play and are leading the team. He definitely has that. He’s leading the team. I completely trust him.”

https://selloutcrowd.com/oklahoma/2023/ ... -returned/

[Fly]

Berry Tramel opinion is worth no more then the hot air that comes out of his mouth. He make his living doing this. I Quit reading his
ranting years ago. His opinion carry’s no more than yours or mine. JMOHOP.

Fly

[captnop]

I am NOT a Trammel fan. However JA burned a redshirt to play 1/2 a game for DG. Yeah if DG came back and JA wasn't sure he was starting .. thats 1/2 his collegiate career. Thats the way it is now. Right or wrong. I wouldn't blame Arnold for thinking that way. To boot JA has a WAY bigger upside.

[AllSooner]

We could be seeing a similar situation down south. Ewers is reportedly coming back instead of going pro. If this is true, Arch will be forced to play backup or hit the portal. It's gonna be interesting to watch in any case.

[OU Guy]

Look, BT is a clown and even his tweets are hard to read (there is a decipher account for this lol) - he has way more connections to the industry than most reporters do. I won’t discount his info only his delivery. Being around that long he has a deep network of people associated with the program.

There is no doubt JA leaves if DG stays. And I think DG knew that and had formed such a bond with him and other players he left to “not” create a problem in the qb room. Said in other threads thats my belief and I’ll always believe it and hold Dillon in high esteem for it.

[OU Guy]

From a current receiver (to me thats the best source)


𝕺𝖐𝖑𝖆𝖍𝖔𝖒𝖆 𝖛𝖘. 𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝖂𝖔𝖗𝖑𝖉
@soonergridiron

Jackson Arnold settling in as QB1 after Dillon Gabriel's transfer.

"I’m very excited to see him play in the bowl game. I can’t wait until he showcases his talent. He’s a great dude, a great leader. He can sling it." — Jalil Farooq

[OU Guy]

We could be seeing a similar situation down south. Ewers is reportedly coming back instead of going pro. If this is true, Arch will be forced to play backup or hit the portal. It's gonna be interesting to watch in any case.

Welp, right team different QB. I think this QB is much better than Arch and is a huge loss for tx. They get starter back but it hirts them long term. If Ewers gets hurt then its Arch. Unless they have another decent rostered qb or go get one.

[TropicalSooner]

Ouch!

I think I'd rather deal with Ewers anyway.

[OU Chinaman]

Look, BT is a clown and even his tweets are hard to read (there is a decipher account for this lol) - he has way more connections to the industry than most reporters do. I won’t discount his info only his delivery. Being around that long he has a deep network of people associated with the program.

There is no doubt JA leaves if DG stays. And I think DG knew that and had formed such a bond with him and other players he left to “not” create a problem in the qb room. Said in other threads thats my belief and I’ll always believe it and hold Dillon in high esteem for it.

...you might be right...but Gabriel had 1.5-2 million other reasons too.

[WishBone]

Uhh yeah ?

[AllSooner]

Look, BT is a clown and even his tweets are hard to read (there is a decipher account for this lol) - he has way more connections to the industry than most reporters do. I won’t discount his info only his delivery. Being around that long he has a deep network of people associated with the program.

There is no doubt JA leaves if DG stays. And I think DG knew that and had formed such a bond with him and other players he left to “not” create a problem in the qb room. Said in other threads thats my belief and I’ll always believe it and hold Dillon in high esteem for it.

...you might be right...but Gabriel had 1.5-2 million other reasons too.

I'd be willing to bet if Coach V wanted DG to stay, the Oklahoma Collective could easily come up with a matching plus for DG. Just saying......
It worked out for the best for both OU and DG.

[OU Guy]

Another player chimes in - tells me they are all bought in with Jackson as QB1.

[Bixby_Sooner]

Berry Tramel opinion is worth no more then the hot air that comes out of his mouth. He make his living doing this. I Quit reading his
ranting years ago. His opinion carry’s no more than yours or mine. JMOHOP.

Fly

I've said it many times before and I'll say it many more times. The next time I care about anything that BT writes, will be the first time.

[RussC]

Where does the Berry Trammel rage come from?

I quit reading the Oklahoman when they paywalled it.

What did he do to deserve such hatred?

I missed it.

[OU Guy]

This is pretty awesome. Having players bought in will create bonds that help during tough times/games.