Biggest questions for OU's quarterbacks in 2023

Editor's Note: This is the final installment in a series examining every Oklahoma position group heading into 2023. The previous installments covered wide receiver, running back, linebacker, defensive end, safety, tight end, cornerbacks, interior defensive line, special teams and offensive line.

When Dillon Gabriel was injured in the first half against TCU last year, it exposed a serious flaw in Oklahoma’s roster.

The Sooners had no quarterback depth.

Gabriel missed the second half against TCU and the following game against Texas, and the Sooners scored 14 points in the nearly seven quarters without Gabriel on the field. Backup quarterback Davis Beville completed 13-of-28 attempts for 86 yards, zero touchdowns and an interception during that stretch, and the coaching staff wasn’t comfortable with inserting Nick Evers (who transferred after the season) or General Booty into the game.

That may not be as big of a problem in 2023, thanks to the addition of five-star prospect Jackson Arnold.

“I feel like (our quarterback depth is) in a lot better place than we were a year ago,” OU offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby said after the spring game. “I don't think there's any question about that.”

With the Sooners looking to bounce back from a disappointing 2022 campaign, they need all of the quarterback talent they can get. Here’s a look at the biggest questions facing the QB room in 2023:

When fall camp begins on Aug. 3, it’ll likely be a talking point all season.

It’s a pretty common dilemma that a lot of teams face every season. Should the starter be the experienced veteran (Gabriel), or should it be the younger, inexperienced player with more upside (Arnold)?

Gabriel not only enters his fifth-year senior season this fall. He has experience in Lebby’s offense, too. Plus, the coaching staff has typically valued experience when it comes to deciding playing time.

“(Gabriel) understands what it looks like every single Saturday now after going through it, which is a huge part of being here, too,” Lebby said during spring practices. “It’s an advantage too, now. He’s had really good growth in the meeting room. He’ll continue to do so. He’ll continue to lead that group and our unit and our football team the right way. I’m looking forward to him doing so.”

Arnold’s time as the Sooners’ longtime starter will come. Lebby even acknowledged that Arnold will be the face of OU football “at some point” back in December.

But assuming there’s not any shocking developments during fall camp, Gabriel will enter Week 1 as the starter under center.

This year will likely be all about development for Arnold. But that development needs to include some time on the field, too.

The highly-talented freshman will certainly be the No. 2 quarterback on the depth chart, though playing time may be limited if Gabriel continues to hold the starting job. The easiest way would be for the Sooners to take early commanding leads that allow Arnold to take the snaps in the second half. But garbage-time opportunities didn’t happen a lot for the Sooners in 2022, particularly in conference play.

This year could be different. If it is, the Sooners will need to seize any opportunities they get to put Arnold on the field.

Of course, it’s possible Arnold could eventually earn the starting job. But assuming that doesn’t happen, the Sooners may have to be creative with Arnold.

Based on the counting stats, Gabriel was solid in 2022.

He finished with 3,184 yards while completing 62.7% of his passes, adding 25 touchdowns and only six interceptions. He finished 23rd nationally in passing efficiency (154.39) and second in the Big 12 behind Max Duggan.

But Gabriel knows there are areas where improvement is needed, especially on late-down conversions. The Sooners converted just 38.7% of third-down attempts during conference play, which ranked seventh in the Big 12, and they finished ninth in fourth-down conversions (35%). Gabriel also had struggles throwing intermediate passes, particularly in the middle of the field.

“(I’ve) gotten a lot better at situational football,” Gabriel said during Big 12 Media Days. “Just having that emphasis in spring, taking that into summer and just working those concepts and also those critical situations with the receivers and of course the tight ends and the running backs. I also feel like efficiency, that’s high on my list. Just continuing to find ways to be even more efficient, and then just finishing and finding ways to win.”

Gabriel’s improvement is key if the Sooners hope to accomplish big things in 2023.