Guyer (Denton, Texas) High School quarterback Jackson Arnold committed to Oklahoma on Monday. He is a member of the recruiting class of 2023.
STEWART F. HOUSE, Dallas Morning News
Denton Guyer quarterback Jackson Arnold (11) scrambles away from Denton Ryan defensive lineman MarQuice Hill (1) during the second half of a high school football game on Friday, Sept. 3, 2021, in Denton. Guyer won the game 14-7 in overtime.
SMILEY N. Pool/Dallas Morning News
Denton Guyer quarterback Jackson Arnold attempts a pass against Denton Braswell during the first half in a District 5-6A high school football game played at the C.H. Collins Complex on Friday, October 8, 2021, in Denton. STEVE NURENBERG/Dallas Morning News
Denton Guyer quarterback Jackson Arnold (11) scrambles out of the backfield to avoid the pursuit of Austin Westlake defensive back Will Courtney (16) during a first quarter rush. The two teams played their Class 6A Division ll football state championship game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington on December 18, 2021. STEVE HAMM/Dallas Morning News
Jeff Lebby made it a priority to stock Oklahoma’s quarterbacks room.
When the Sooners’ new offensive coordinator accepted the job, there were no guarantees on Caleb Williams’ return at quarterback. Even before Williams entered the transfer portal, major movement was being made.
On Monday, Jackson Arnold became the latest quarterback to pledge to the Sooners. The 6-foot-2, 195-pounder from the class of 2023 also held offers from Alabama, LSU, Ole Miss, Notre Dame and Ohio State.
Arnold is set to join UCF transfer Dillon Gabriel and 2022 signee Nick Evers as scholarship quarterbacks.
The Sooners still have not heard the decision of USC transfer Jaxson Dart, who was pursued by Oklahoma. Williams hasn’t officially severed ties with OU but everything is trending that direction.
Lebby has had a previous relationship with Gabriel and Evers. Lebby was UCF’s offensive coordinator during the 2019 campaign before leaving for Ole Miss. While at the SEC school, he recruited Evers.
After Oklahoma’s coaching transition from Lincoln Riley to Brent Venables, Evers flipped his commitment from Florida to OU. He signed in mid-December.
Gabriel shifted his transfer destination from UCLA to Oklahoma just hours after Williams entered the transfer portal.
Arnold’s relationship with offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby, like the others, was a key factor.
Lebby was recruiting the Denton (Texas) Guyer High School graduate to Ole Miss, his former school before both decided to head to Norman.
Arnold, labeled a four-star player by recruiting services, threw for 3,921 yards and 34 touchdowns in 2021, his junior season. He also rushed for 659 yards and a dozen scores.
Arnold joins two others in the 2023 recruiting class — wide receiver DeAndre Moore and center Joshua Bates.
When Riley was OU’s coach, Rivals had ranked the Sooners as the No. 1 recruiting class in 2023. But after Riley’s departure, the program lost five of its seven commits.
A look at OU, OSU and TU football transfers announced during the 2022 offseason
OL Hunter Anthony
DL Noah Arinze
OL Cade Bennett
CB Jarrick Bernard-Converse
QB Davis Beville
OL Dante Bivens
OL Jason Brooks Jr.
CB C.J. Coldon
OL Casey Collier
WR Sam Crawford Jr.
WR Marcellus Crutchfield
WR Isaiah Epps
S Pat Fields
QB Dillon Gabriel
OT Tyler Guyton
WR Jadon Haselwood
WR JJ Hester
QB Shane Illingworth
WR Cody Jackson
RB Dezmon Jackson
DT Jayden Jernigan
NT Jeffery Johnson
DL Deven Lamp
DL Jonah La'ulu
DB Gabe Lemons
LS Jake Mann
DL Ian Marshall (walk-on)
S Tanner McCalister
CB Latrell McCutchin
OL McKade Mettauer
OL Monroe Mills
LB Jamal Morris
DB Trey Morrison
OL Prince Pines
DL Jaxon Player
WR Matt Polk
QB Spencer Rattler
DE/OLB Nathan Rawlins-Kibonge
LB T.D. Roof
WR Jonathan Shepard
OL Darrell Simpson
TE Austin Stogner
WR Haydon Wiginton (walk-on)
QB Caleb Williams
WR Mario Williams
OL Tyrese Williams
OSU's Mike Gundy on transfer portal
Sooners WR Jalil Farooq on former OU quarterback Caleb Williams: 'He made a decision, I made mine.'
Denton Guyer quarterback Jackson Arnold (11) scrambles away from Denton Ryan defensive lineman MarQuice Hill (1) during the second half of a high school football game on Friday, Sept. 3, 2021, in Denton. Guyer won the game 14-7 in overtime.
Denton Guyer quarterback Jackson Arnold attempts a pass against Denton Braswell during the first half in a District 5-6A high school football game played at the C.H. Collins Complex on Friday, October 8, 2021, in Denton. STEVE NURENBERG/Dallas Morning News
Denton Guyer quarterback Jackson Arnold (11) scrambles out of the backfield to avoid the pursuit of Austin Westlake defensive back Will Courtney (16) during a first quarter rush. The two teams played their Class 6A Division ll football state championship game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington on December 18, 2021. STEVE HAMM/Dallas Morning News