One of the most overused lines in cinema is “We’re not so different, you and I.” However, the quote applies perfectly in pregame coverage of Auburn football’s game with No. 18 Oklahoma.
Auburn has lacked consistency at the quarterback position through four games with senior Payton Thorne and redshirt freshman Hank Brown earning two starts each with mixed results. Oklahoma is experiencing similar challenges, forcing head coach Brent Venables to change the starter ahead of the Sooners’ trip to Auburn this Saturday.
Oklahoma signed five-star quarterback Jackson Arnold to its 2023 class and he was expected to be the starter for several seasons, however, after a weak showing against Tennessee last Saturday in which he completed 7-of-16 passes for 54 yards, Venables elected to give true freshman Michael Hawkins Jr. a try at the position. He did enough to keep the Sooners in the game by passing for 132 yards and a touchdown in the 25-15 loss to the Volunteers.
He performed well enough to earn his first career start this weekend, doing so at Jordan-Hare Stadium against the Auburn Tigers. Venables says that he will look to Hawkins to provide a much-needed spark to the SEC’s last-ranked offense.
“Mike will have his opportunity to run out there and be our guy and see where we’re at and try to give us a kick start,” Venables said Monday on his weekly radio show, Sooner Sports Talk.
Hawkins has not earned the right to be a full-time starter for the Sooners yet. However, a great outing on the road at Auburn could lead to a permanent role writes Aaron Gelvin of Sooners Wire.
“Venables didn’t name Hawkins the starter for the rest of the season, and that distinction will come down to play on the field,” Gelvin wrote. “Hawkins earned a shot to be the starter against the Tigers, and if he plays well, it’s likely Venables and his staff will stick with the youngster.”
Hawkins has been more effective despite not having equal snaps to Arnold. According to…
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