How does OU football's QB depth chart look beyond Dillon Gabriel and Jackson Arnold?
NORMAN — Dillon Gabriel had plenty of expectations placed on his shoulders after transferring from Central Florida.
Gabriel had a longtime relationship with new Sooners offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby and had put up great numbers with the Golden Knights (especially during his time with Lebby).
Then there was also the incredibly high bar for quarterback play at OU in recent years with the stretch of Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray and Jalen Hurts. Even Spencer Rattler and Caleb Williams regularly made jaw-dropping plays, even if they also had their fair share of youthful mistakes.
Gabriel didn’t live up to that level of hype, throwing for 3,168 yards and 25 touchdowns with just six interceptions.
He’ll be OU’s starting quarterback once again in 2023, though incoming freshman Jackson Arnold comes in with plenty of hype as a five-star prospect from Denton (Texas) Guyer.
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Here’s a look at OU’s quarterback position heading into spring practice:
Season rewind
Gabriel’s value was never more evident than when he got hurt early in the Oct. 1 loss to TCU.
The Sooners were already in a hole in that game, but without Gabriel, they had no chance.
Backup Davis Beville was 7 of 16 for just 50 yards in that loss.
The next week against Texas, Beville was 6 of 12 for just 38 yards, with an interception as the Sooners largely went to a wildcat approach at quarterback.
The late addition of Nick Evers to the 2022 class was a recruiting win for Brent Venables but it was clear Sooners coaches didn’t feel like Evers was ready as he threw just one pass — a badly underthrown incompletion — in that loss to the Longhorns.
Gabriel returned and outside of the Baylor game where he threw three interceptions, was largely effective, though not flashy.
His best game came in the regular-season finale against Texas Tech, when he completed 70% of his passes for 449 yards and six touchdowns with one interception.
“From a totality standpoint, I think there was a lot of good,” Lebby said.
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Roster management
Who’s out: Micah Bowens, Nick Evers, Ralph Rucker
Who’s in: Jackson Arnold (already enrolled)
Evers is gone, transferring to Wisconsin after the season. So is Bowens, who never saw the field during two seasons in Norman. Arnold is in, and looks to be the quarterback-in-waiting.
Arnold has already impressed plenty with his poise and leadership during team workouts leading up to spring practice.
But for now, Gabriel remains the guy at quarterback for the Sooners.
He’ll have some new targets, with top receiver Marvin Mims and tight end/security blanket Brayden Willis having departed for the NFL Draft.
The Sooners don’t need Gabriel to be Mayfield, or even Williams, but they do need him to be a bit more dynamic in his playmaking abilities.
Gabriel seemed reluctant to take chances at times and lacked the arm strength to fully take advantage of Mims’ game-breaking speed.
The Sooners also need to develop depth behind Gabriel.
By the middle of the season, the top option behind him figures to be Arnold.
But if Gabriel were to get hurt early in the season again, would OU have to lean on an offensive gimmick again?
If so, they’d be in a world of hurt, especially considering neither Willis nor running back Eric Gray returns.
The Sooners need either Arnold to develop at a fast clip, or for either Beville or General Booty to at least show themselves to be serviceable at the spot.
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Depth chart
The starter
Dillon Gabriel, RSr., 5-11, 203
The reserves
Jackson Arnold, Fr., 6-1, 205
Davis Beville, RSr., 6-6, 225
General Booty, Jr., 6-2, 190
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OU football: Dillon Gabriel still starting QB as Jackson Arnold waits
