Oklahoma quarterback Jackson Arnold mentioned at SEC Media Days that he is welcoming the high expectations of leading the Sooners.
This is fitting, as few expectations are higher than those placed on the national player of the year.
On Monday, Arnold was named to the preseason watch list for the Maxwell Award, which is awarded to the best player in college football.
Former Washington quarterback Michael Penix received the award in 2023, while former Sooner Caleb Williams won it in 2022 at USC.
OU quarterbacks who have received the Maxwell Award include Baker Mayfield (2017) and Jason White (2004). Split end Tommy McDonald won it in 1956.
“There’s a lot of pressure that comes with this position for sure,” Arnold said in Dallas. “Again, at the end of the day, I just gotta go out and perform to the best of my abilities and hope I live up to that lineage.”
Arnold will make his second career start when the Sooners host Temple on Aug. 30.
Last season, he served as Dillon Gabriel’s backup for 12 games. After Gabriel entered the transfer portal last December, Arnold took over the starting job ahead of the Alamo Bowl against Arizona.
In that game, Arnold passed for 361 yards and two touchdowns but also threw three interceptions and lost a fumble.
The 6-foot-1, 211-pound sophomore from Denton, TX, completed 44-of-69 passes (80.4 percent) for 563 yards with four touchdowns and three interceptions last season. He also rushed for 31 yards and a touchdown.
Arnold, a 5-star prospect from Guyer High School, was the Gatorade National Player of the Year in 2022. He enrolled at OU in January 2023 and quickly assumed the backup role behind Gabriel last spring.
