Welcome to the Michael Hawkins show

If Sooners' remain a program led by great quarterbacks, he'll be the next one

Oklahoma quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. (9) runs the ball as Tennessee defensive lineman Tyre West (42) reaches for the tackle during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Norman, Okla. (AP Photo/Alonzo Adams)

There’s the season.

Go save it Michael Hawkins.

Sorry, couldn’t help it.

Probably not fair.

This time last year, Hawkins was playing high school football at Emerson High School, part of the Frisco district even though it’s in McKinney.

Also, just six days ago, he was doing what Jackson Arnold, the heir apparent, the five-star, the next in line, the can’t-miss kid, as though any of that ever means anything, really, could not do.

How much Tennessee’s defense backed off for him remains a good question, and still it’s not like OU was completely out of it in the fourth quarter and if the Sooners had connected on a two-point conversion all of us would have been hunkering down for a very interesting onside kick with 1:19 remaining.

If you go back and watch the highlights, you may notice that not only did Hawkins lead a pair of touchdown drives, he made sound offensive football appear attainable. He made a big play or two, lots of small ones and none appeared lucky.

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