Hawkins is OU’s true freshman QB who came off the bench to replace an ineffective Arnold is Saturday night’s 25-15 loss to Tennessee. He sparked the Sooners with two fourth-quarter touchdowns, and this week will make his first career start as No. 21-ranked OU hits the road for the first time at Auburn.
Venables said Tuesday that the Sooners will still need Arnold focused and ready in case he needs to go in.
“That might be pulling the trigger even on Saturday night (at Auburn),” Venables said. “We know how the game of football is sometimes. He’s gotta stay ready.”
That would seem to be an indicator that Thompson will remain third string this week behind both Hawkins and Arnold.
When Hawkins began to warm up last week against the Vols after Arnold gave away three turnovers, he was long-throwing with Thompson, who also used the moment to get loose.
The seventh-year senior from Moore (via Newcastle) has a library of experience, from starting big games for the Texas Longhorns, the Nebraska Cornhuskers and even the Florida Atlantic Owls.
Thompson, son of former OU quarterback Charles Thompson, wrecked his knee last year at FAU and has been on the mend ever since. He transferred to Oklahoma in January and has been on the rehab track. He has yet to fulfill his dream of playing a game in the Crimson and Cream, but Venables indicated that he’s at least mentally ready to play no matter how the Hawkins-Arnold saga shakes out.
“He’s been fantastic,” Venables said. “He’s been there, done that. He’s started a gazillion games, played a lot of ball, been in a lot of meeting rooms, seen a lot of that kind of stuff happen.”
Thompson, 25, has actually played in 33 games after redshirting his freshman year at Texas in 2019. That includes 20 career starts, and he’s compiled 5,338 passing yards and 52 career touchdown passes. With a .635 career completion percentage, he’s also rushed for 191 yards and 10 touchdowns.
