OU football spring game recap: Jackson Arnold, Sooners wrap up camp

Colton Sulley, The Oklahoman

Coach Brent Venables and the OU football team wrap up spring practice on Saturday afternoon at Owen Field in Norman — it's one final look at the Sooners before they join the SEC on July 1.

Follow along for live updates of the Sooners' spring game:

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FINAL: Red (offense) 65, White (defense) 58

Check out Ryan Aber's takeaways HERE.

End of 3rd quarter: Red (offense) 56, White (defense) 48

The target score for the fourth quarter is 65. The first team to 65 wins.

Defensive coordinator Zac Alley and co-offensive coordinator Joe Jon Finley participated in a punt-off, where whoever punted a football the furthest added three points to their teams' total. Finley won the competition, giving the red team a 56-48 lead.

General Booty shows off his wheels

One of OU's backup quarterbacks General Booty showed off his speed to start the second half, scoring a long touchdown on the ground.

HALF: Red (offense) 42, White (defense) 38

It was the Deion Burks show in the first half.

The Sooners' offensive started the game on a roll, but the defense stuck in it and played better as the half went along, particularly the defensive line. Adepoju Adebawore and R Mason Thomas were active in the backfield. Adebawore, the former five-star out of high school, looked dominant and picked up a sack before halftime.

Burks caught five passes for 174 yards and two touchdowns in the first half. Ethan Downs led the defense with three tackles for loss and a sack.

Jackson Arnold to Deion Burks again

It appears like we'll be seeing this a bunch come the fall.

Purdue transfer wide receiver continues to be quarterback Jackson Arnold's go-to receiver as he found him for a 50-yard score in the second quarter. OU's red teams leads its white team 37-16.

Florida State transfer kicker Tyler Keltner misses, Zach Schmit drills one

Tyler Keltner, who appears to be the Sooners' starting kicker as of now, missed from 45 yards. Zach Schmit, OU's primary kicker last season, nailed a 29-yarder.

End of 1st quarter: Red (offense) 25, White (defense) 6

The offensive line has looked good so far. Quarterback Jackson Arnold has had enough time to go through his progressions. Wide receiver Deion Burks is approaching 100 yards already.

Freshmen defensive linemen Jayden Jackson and David Stone are living up the hype as they've blown a few plays up. Another freshman who has been all over the field to start has been defensive back Michael Boganowski.

Gavin Sawcuk rushes for 1-yard touchdown

Outside of allowing a near sack to Ethan Downs, OU's offensive line has held up. The unit looked good on a drive that was capped by a Gavin Sawchuk one-yard touchdown rush.

Kalib Hicks rushes for 30-yard touchdown

Redshirt freshman running back Kalib Hicks, running with the second team offense, scored a 30-yard touchdown. The red team leads the white team 18-0 in the first quarter.

Jackson Arnold finds Deion Burks for first touchdown of game

OU quarterback Jackson Arnold found Deion Burks for a 64-yard touchdown to open the scoring on Saturday.

Following the touchdown, Florida State transfer kicker Tyler Keltner drilled the PAT. OU's kicking struggles were well-documented a season ago.

Starters

The Sooners' offensive starters Saturday were: quarterback Jackson Arnold, running back Gavin Sawchuk, left tackle Michael Tarquin, left guard Jacob Sexton, center Josh Bates, right guard Febechi Nwaiwu, right tackle Jake Taylor, tight end Bauer harp and wide receivers Jayden Gibson, J.J. Hester and Deion Burks.

Oklahoma's defensive starters Saturday were: defensive ends Ethan Downs and R Mason Thomas, defensive tackles Jayden Jackson and Gracen Halton and linebackers Danny Stutsman and Kip Lewis and defensive backs Makari Vickers, Jacobe Johnson, Robert Spears-Jennings and Peyton Bowen. Kendel Dolby started at cheetah.

Jackson, a four-star early enrollee, earning the start is significant. He's projected to make an immediate impact in the fall. Bowen, the Sooners' safety, returned the first punt.

Pregame: OU football injury updates

OU will be without wide receiver Nic Anderson, offensive lineman Geirean Hatchett, defensive lineman Da’Jon Terry, wide receiver Brenen Thompson and defensive back Woodi Washington on Saturday.

The five players were not dressed out during warmups.

—Colton Sulley, Staff writer

OU football spring game format

The Sooners' spring game format will feature the offense as the red team vs. the defense as the white team and a point-scoring system. Each quarter will be 12 minutes. At the start of the fourth quarter, a target score will be generated by adding 12 points to the leading team's score.

What times does OU football's 2024 spring game start?

  • Date: Saturday, April 20

  • Time: 2:30 p.m. CT

  • Where: Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman

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How to watch, listen to OU football's 2024 spring game

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This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OU football spring game recap: Jackson Arnold, Sooners wrap up camp

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