NORMAN — Brent Venables speaks highly of backup quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr.
Great work ethic. Coachable.
Hungry. Humble.
Ultra talented.
“He’s done a great job of keeping his head down and improving his understanding of the offense and all the fundamentals of being a quarterback,” Venables says.
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Then again, you’d expect the OU football coach to say positive things about Hawkins, who is about to be the Sooner starter again. After replacing an ineffective Jackson Arnold last season, Hawkins is now taking over for an injured John Mateer, beginning Saturday against Kent State and continuing for who knows how long.
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We’re about to see if Hawkins has improved as much as Venables says.
If Hawkins has, bully for the Sooners.
But here’s what we already know: The offense that will play around Hawkins has improved from what it was a year ago.
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The OU offense was already injury-riddled when Hawkins took over for Arnold mid-way through the Tennessee game last season. The injury report was filled with offensive linemen and wide receivers who were doubtful or out.
Peak Baker Mayfield probably would’ve struggled with the situation.
Hawkins certainly did.
Even though he had good moments, including a victory at Auburn, he was mostly meh. He accounted for just two touchdowns, one passing and one rushing, in three starts plus the Tennessee game. Two touchdowns in roughly 12 quarters of football.
That isn’t going to win many ballgames.
Now, Hawkins was better in the bowl, taking over again after Arnold announced his transfer to Auburn. But still, the OU offense went dormant for nearly three quarters after an early flurry, scored only three touchdowns against Navy and lost after a failed last-second two-point conversion.
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Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. (3) warms up before a college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Auburn Tigers at Gaylord Family Ð Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025.
Then, of course, there were the no good, very bad days that Hawkins had.
He and the offense were completely neutralized by Texas, managing only 139 yards through three quarters and failing to score a touchdown. The next week, things got worse; Hawkins had the three quick turnovers against South Carolina and the game was decided before some folks even got to their seats at the stadium.
Is Hawkins better now than he was in those two games?
Seems likely.
But how good he is remains to be seen.
The guys around him, though, are absolutely better than the ones he played with a year ago.
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Even though the offensive line has again dealt with injuries — does Bill Bedenbaugh need to do a sacrificial ritual with his playbook or his coaching polo or something? — the unit has improved. The best lineup is likely Michael Fasusi, Heath Ozaeta, Jake Maikkula, Febechi Nwaiwi and Derek Simmons, though Logan Howland has played well of late, and that bunch has yet to make a start together this season.
Still, the offensive line has allowed only five sacks in four games, an average of 1.3 a game.
A year ago, it allowed 3.8 sacks a game.
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Michael Hawkins Jr. (3) runs drills during an Oklahoma (OU) football practice at the Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., on Tuesday, March 25, 2025.
Granted, that number from last season includes an entire SEC slate while the Sooners have played only one SEC opponent so far this season. Mateer’s running ability has helped this year, too. But it’s safe to say the offensive line that will be protecting Hawkins this time around is better.
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Ditto for the receivers.
By the fifth game a year ago, Hawkins was having to throw to Bauer Sharp and J.J. Hester. Now, Hawkins will have Deion Burks, Jaren Kanak, Isaiah Satenga III and Keontez Lewis among others at his disposal.
Big improvement there.
As for the tailbacks who will be in the backfield with Hawkins this time around, it’s hard to say if they’re better than the ones who were there last year. I suspect they are, but we haven’t really seen overwhelming evidence of that. At worse, this bunch is a wash compared to last season.
Add the fact that OU now has an offensive coordinator in Ben Arbuckle who is one of the brightest young minds in the college game, and the situation overall sets up much better for Hawkins. Better for success. Better to win.
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How much better he is, we’re about to find out.
Jenni Carlson: Jenni can be reached at jcarlson@oklahoman.com. Like her at facebook.com/JenniCarlsonOK, follow her at @jennicarlsonok.bsky.social and twitter.com/jennicarlson_ok, and support her work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today.
OU vs. Kent State
KICKOFF: 3 p.m. Saturday at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman (SEC Network)
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OU football has increased Michael Hawkins Jr.’s chance for success
