Oklahoma
How Oklahoma QB Jackson Arnold Honed the Mental Side of His Game This Offseason
DALLAS — The Alamo Bowl is firmly in Jackson Arnold’s rearview.
Oklahoma’s new starting quarterback worked to improve all throughout the spring as he enters his first year truly at the helm of OU’s offense, and his eyes are locked on the future.
Arnold flashed plenty of the arm talent that excited coaches around the country during his recruitment in the second and third quarters against Arizona last December, but four turnovers soured his first start.
Curbing those miscues were the obvious takeaway from the contest, but he had another focus during spring practice to develop into the quarterback Brent Venables and offensive coordinator Seth Littrell hope he can be as a sophomore in 2024.
“After that Arizona game, there was a lot of maturing and a lot of growing up that I had to do,” Arnold said at SEC Media Days on Tuesday. “Stepping into that QB1 role, I had to be a real leader for us, for our team, and just stepping into that role, I know I need to mature as a person, as a player too.
“And the person that I am now and the player that I am now has improved drastically from where I was in that bowl game.”
At the start of bowl practice last year, Arnold admitted the leadership part of his new job was a bit awkward.
“All those guys had Dillon as their quarterback the whole year,” Arnold said. “It felt like I was taking (Gabriel’s) role from him.”
Those worries are no more.
“The biggest part of leadership that I focused on this offseason was being a vocal leader,” Arnold said. “Stepping up through conditioning or working out or whatever, just being vocal for those guys and picking them up. Even if we’re in huddles with each other, just leading those guys, telling them things and how we operate and just showing them the way things are done.”
Growing into a leadership role can take time.
Danny Stutsman is now so much more than simply OU’s best linebacker.
He was the heart and soul of the defense in 2023, and is a talismanic piece for the Sooners.
Stutsman had to learn the hard way just how challenging leading an entire side of the ball can be — something he sees Arnold digesting right now.
“It’s difficult for him,” Stutsman said. Only playing one game last year and having all these expectations thrown onto him. He’s done an amazing job of filling that role and doing whatever it takes.
“For myself, I look back to my sophomore year, kind of earning that starting spot. It kind of took a while. I thought the guys on the defense kind of were leaders. I realized quickly that someone needs to step into that more vocal role.
“… Sometimes guys don’t want to be there, and you see it right away. You have to be the person who wakes them up, gets them going. Sometimes that person is myself, and I have to kind of understand like if I come to practice or come to workout and I’m not 110 percent, I’m not the one who’s getting everyone clapping, getting everyone with that energy, then people are going to feed off of that both ways.”
As spring practice broke and made way to summer workouts, Arnold still had his own checklist of improvements on the field.
He tested his skills against the nation’s other top quarterbacks at the Manning Passing Academy, where he continued to try and hone how to marry his arm strength with a deeper understanding of exactly where the ball needs to go on every play.
“I feel like the biggest thing for me after spring ball was attacking the mental side of football,” Arnold said, “whether that’s looking at defenses or how Coach V looks at offenses, getting a defensive perspective of the game.
“But just really focusing on the mental part of football and just kind of learning different things that will help me ID coverages or help me make better reads for the season.”
The true test for Arnold will come in September when the Sooners open up SEC play against Tennesse and then close the month with a trip to Auburn.
His development will go a long way in determining Oklahoma’s fate in 2024.
But as the Sooners prepare to open training camp at the end of the month, it’s clear he’s taken the necessary strides off the field to lead OU on it this year.
“I think Jackson is starting to understand that and trying to do everything he can to be turned into that leader,” Stutsman said.
Four people are in custody after Oklahoma City police seized approximately 30 pounds of methamphetamine and removed dozens of animals from a home in southeast Oklahoma City on Thursday.
Police executed what they confirmed was a drug-related search warrant at a home near Southeast 15th Street and High Avenue. Authorities have not released information about what led investigators to the residence.
Drug Investigation Leads to Large Seizure
According to the Oklahoma City Police Department, officers recovered approximately 30 pounds of methamphetamine from the home during the search.
Police said at least four people were taken into custody. Authorities have not released the identities of those arrested or any related charges.
Numerous Animals Removed From Property
Alongside the drug investigation, Oklahoma City Animal Welfare officers assisted in removing numerous animals from the property.
News 9 cameras captured at least 20 dogs being taken from the home, including one wearing a muzzle. Police said a horse, cats, chickens and snakes were also removed.
Neighbors watched as officers spent hours at the residence.
“This is crazy. Like this is literally crazy,” said Nisha who lives nearby.
Another resident said she saw several people in handcuffs but did not initially know what was happening.
“I saw a couple men in handcuffs. I had no idea what was going on until my neighbor,” Dora Garcia said.
Neighbors say they were aware the home had dogs but were shocked by everything else discovered.
“I knew they had dogs. Everybody over here knew they had dogs, but the rest of this is just mind-boggling,” Nisha said.
She also expressed concern about how close the investigation was to her homes.
“Too close for comfort. Way too close for comfort,” Nisha said.
Investigation Continues
Police said the search warrant was related to a drug investigation but have not released additional details about why officers targeted the home.
The investigation remains ongoing. Oklahoma City police said additional information about those in custody is expected to be released as it becomes available.
This is a developing story.
Oklahoma State and Houston have an odd tradition dating back to their matchup in 1986. Neither team has won two games in a row.
Since that game in Stillwater in 1986 the Cougars and the Cowboys have alternated victories. Houston won that game in Stillwater, 28-12. The Cowboys followed that with a win in Houston in 1987.
Then the Cougars won in 2006 in Houston, followed by an Oklahoma State win in Stillwater in 2008. The two teams met again in 2009 in Stillwater and Houston won.
That was followed in 2023 by Oklahoma State’s first visit to Houston in Big 12 action with the Cowboys claiming the victory. And, of course, there was Oklahoma State’s loss to Houston last year in Stillwater.
If things hold the form, Oklahoma State will beat Houston this October. But the Cowboys are going to have to overcome something that Houston does better than them.
What Houston Does Better Than Oklahoma State
Given that both teams have talented offenses and have the potential to dominate in the passing game, it’s safe to say that’s a draw. Same for the running game with Caleb Hawkins at Oklahoma State and the incoming Makhi Hughes at Houston.
So, it could come down to who can defend the pass the best. In that area, Houston would have a clear advantage.
In terms of yards allowed in the air last year Houston was No. 10 in the Big 12 and Oklahoma State was No. 13. There wasn’t much separating the pair. But Houston had 12 interceptions to Oklahoma State’s six, and much of that production is coming back in the form of three returning starters. Plus, the Cougars managed to replace some of the lost production with an impressive transfer.
Will James was an All-Big 12 cornerback last year who returns with three interceptions and five pass breakups in what was a breakthrough season for the junior. Both safeties are back after last season as well. Kentrell Webb is more of a ball-hawkish type safety who can also tackle (71 tackles, one interception) while Jordan Allen had 48 tackles and broke up two passes.
New corner Jalen Mayo replaces much of the lost production on the back end. The Stephen F. Austin transfer helped the Lumberjacks win the Southland Conference and an FCS playoff game as he picked off four passes. He’ll combine with James to build a formidable group of cornerbacks that can also count on another transfer, Javion White, in a 4-2-5 formation.
Game planning will be a bit easier for Oklahoma State since it plays the same 4-2-5 scheme. But, on paper, Houston’s secondary looks much better than Oklahoma State’s, which only has one returning starter in LaDanian Fields, who is a sophomore. Fields has two interceptions as a redshirt freshman. But transfers will make up for what else was lost last season.
Given the continuity on Houston’s side, it’s easy to see why their secondary is the thing they do better than Oklahoma State. Of course, the Cowboys have enough runway to nullify that advantage before they meet in October.
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Kentucky fans have been waiting all night to hear the name Otega Oweh called in the 2026 NBA Draft, and the wait is finally over. Oweh just went with the 41st pick to the Miami Heat, but his draft rights were traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder. This means Oweh will be joining Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Cason Wallace, who just two seasons ago won the NBA Championship.
The Thunder still have one of the best young cores in the NBA, and now they have added to it by bringing in the Kentucky star Oweh. This season for the Wildcats, Oweh led the team in scoring, averaging 18.6 points per game to go with 4.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.8 steals.
When watching Oweh play, some might wonder how he didn’t go higher in the draft, but the goal for him early into his pro career will be to see if he can continue to develop his jump shot. Last year at Kentucky, Oweh shot 33.3% from deep, but fans felt a lot more confident when Oweh would shoot the three-point shot.
Oweh is a great defender who is going to thrive playing for the Thunder, who are a team that works harder than any other team on the defensive end of the floor. Oweh can be a player for the Thunder who can come off the bench and play really hard on the defensive end of the floor, taking away steals and getting to the rim.
When it comes to getting to the rim, there was no player in college basketball better than Oweh last season. He will be able to do this in the league, and if there is nothing there, he can kick the ball out to an open shooter. Being able to drive and kick in the NBA is very important, and I believe Oweh will do this at a high level.
The goal now for Oweh will be to play really well in the NBA Summer League to prove to the Thunder that he has to be on the team next season. While Oweh’s shooting issue doesn’t make him a prototypical NBA guard, BBN knows this kid can play. He will prove in the NBA Summer League that no team can stop him from getting to the rim. It will be great to see him paired with SGA and Wallace. The fit between the Thunder and Oweh makes a ton of sense, and he could make this roster.
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