DALLAS — Donning a fresh gray suit jacket and red tie, Jackson Arnold confidently whirred through the chaotic multitude inside the Omni Hotel in Downtown Dallas on Tuesday, 35.3 miles away from the high school where his football legacy began.
He calls the Dallas area home, but surrounded by a throng of cameras and sitting down for eight scheduled news conferences or interviews, he’d come a long way from being the five-star quarterback at Denton Guyer. Arnold was 45 days from leading OU football, a blue blood program and one of the SEC’s newest members as its starting quarterback and was the talk of the Sooners’ three-hour window at SEC Media Days.
From those who know him best and observed his first collegiate season, Arnold is ready to take the reins of OU’s offense.
His head coach began his address on the main stage by singing his praises.
“What I feel best about and have the most peace about is his ability to be able to handle the highs and the lows, the challenges, the success, the failure that a season will bring you,” OU coach Brent Venables said. “Nobody is more competent or more ready, even though he’s a young player, and we’ve gotta, in some ways, be the headlights for him. That’s why they call us coach.
“But his skill, his arm talent, his toughness, his instincts, his ability to lead people, bring out the best in people, no question about it, he’s ready for his opportunity and his moment.”
More: What Brent Venables said about Jackson Arnold, OU football injuries at SEC Media Days
OU quarterback Jackson Arnold speaks to reporters on Tuesday at Omni Dallas Hotel during SEC Media Days.
Arnold’s first start in the Alamo Bowl didn’t go as planned. Ruminating about three interceptions, a lost fumble and a two-touchdown loss isn’t how he envisioned ending his freshman season.
He said Tuesday…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/why-jackson-arnold-ready-highs-222330249.html
Author : The Oklahoman
Publish date : 2024-07-16 22:23:30
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