Completed Event: Football versus Michigan on September 6, 2025 , Win , 24, to, 13
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Football
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13
University of Oklahoma Athletics
Photo by: Lauren Coffman/Gatorade
Jackson Arnold Named Gatorade National Player of the Year
January 12, 2023 | Football
NORMAN — Oklahoma signee quarterback Jackson Arnold has been named the 2022-23 Gatorade National Football Player of the Year for his accomplishments on and off the field, Gatorade announced Thursday.
Arnold, who will enroll at OU for the spring semester, is Oklahoma's first high school signee to be named the national player of the year by Gatorade. Kyler Murray, who won the 2018 Heisman Trophy at OU after beginning his career at Texas A&M, was named national player of the year in 2014.
Arnold was presented with the trophy Thursday afternoon in a surprise appearance by former 11-time NFL Pro Bowler and former Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten.
"Incredibly proud of Jackson," said OU head coach Brent Venables. "Being named national player of the year is obviously quite an honor. But he's even more impactful and every bit as achieved off the field, as a leader and a person who stands for what's right. Couldn't be more proud of him and thankful that he's chosen Oklahoma. He's going to lead our 2023 recruiting class into the future. The best is yet to come for him, no doubt."
A consensus five-star and top-13 prospect nationally, Arnold is OU's seventh highest-rated recruit in program history according to 247Sports' composite rankings. He is rated as the No. 8 overall prospect nationally by ESPN, No. 11 by 247Sports, No. 12 by On3 and No. 13 by Rivals, and is rated as the top quarterback in the nation by ESPN and a consensus top-five quarterback recruit. He was named Most Valuable Player of the 2022 Elite 11 Finals and won the 2022 Landy Award as the best high school football player in north Texas.
At the Under Armour All-America game in Orlando, Fla., earlier this month, Arnold completed 12 of 23 passes for 100 yards and a touchdown and led all rushers with 50 yards on five carries.
Arnold went 28-3 in two seasons as a starter at Denton's Guyer High School and compiled more than 7,000 passing yards and 67 passing touchdowns to eight interceptions (8.4-to-1 ratio). He also rushed for 1,580 yards and 36 touchdowns over his junior and senior seasons, leading Guyer to a 2021 Texas 6A Division 2 state championship appearance and a 2022 semifinal showing. As a senior in 2022, he completed 231 of 336 passes (69%) for 3,476 yards and 33 touchdowns against just three interceptions, averaging 10.4 yards per pass attempt, and also rushed for 921 yards and 24 scores.
"This 2023 class is the 'year of the quarterback,' and there are likely five signal-callers rated among the Top 15 prospects in the country," says Greg Biggins, national recruiting analyst for 247 Sports. "Arnold is in that group and easily among the nation's best. He has the kind of skill set that should make every Oklahoma fan very excited, and it wouldn't shock us if he sees the field sooner than later. He has a live, accurate arm and can put the ball anywhere he wants. He's also a very capable runner and can stress a defense with his arm or his legs. He's a tough kid who will stand in and take a shot and never shies away from contact. He's also a natural leader—a winner. And when you combine his on-the-field prowess with his high-end academic background, he is a very deserving choice for this honor."
Off the field, Arnold served as a classroom aide to a math teacher during his senior year, and throughout his high school career, was a member and former vice president of the Texas Young Men's Service League, which provides opportunities for mothers and sons to perform community service. He graduated from Guyer High School in December with a weighted 4.5 GPA.
In addition to excellence on and off the field of play, Gatorade Players of the Year also pay it forward for the next generation. As part of Gatorade's Play it Forward initiative, Arnold will receive a grant to give to one of Gatorade's social impact partners – Athlete Ally, Laureus USA, Move United, Women's Sports Foundation and Up2Us Sports – supporting Gatorade's ambition to fuel the future of sport.??
"Winning Gatorade Player of the Year is an enormous accomplishment, as it's reserved for the best and brightest high school student-athletes," said Michael Del Pozzo, president and general manager of Gatorade. "Jackson Arnold is a role model for future generations of student-athletes on how to be an all-around leader in sport, in the classroom and in the community."
Each year, a selection committee evaluates the nation's top talent to choose one state winner from each of the 50 states as well as Washington, D.C., in 12 different sports: football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls basketball, baseball, softball, boys and girls soccer, and boys and girls track & field. In all, 608 athletes are honored each year. From the pool of state winners, one national winner is selected in each of the 12 sports.
Arnold, who will enroll at OU for the spring semester, is Oklahoma's first high school signee to be named the national player of the year by Gatorade. Kyler Murray, who won the 2018 Heisman Trophy at OU after beginning his career at Texas A&M, was named national player of the year in 2014.
Arnold was presented with the trophy Thursday afternoon in a surprise appearance by former 11-time NFL Pro Bowler and former Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten.
"Incredibly proud of Jackson," said OU head coach Brent Venables. "Being named national player of the year is obviously quite an honor. But he's even more impactful and every bit as achieved off the field, as a leader and a person who stands for what's right. Couldn't be more proud of him and thankful that he's chosen Oklahoma. He's going to lead our 2023 recruiting class into the future. The best is yet to come for him, no doubt."
A consensus five-star and top-13 prospect nationally, Arnold is OU's seventh highest-rated recruit in program history according to 247Sports' composite rankings. He is rated as the No. 8 overall prospect nationally by ESPN, No. 11 by 247Sports, No. 12 by On3 and No. 13 by Rivals, and is rated as the top quarterback in the nation by ESPN and a consensus top-five quarterback recruit. He was named Most Valuable Player of the 2022 Elite 11 Finals and won the 2022 Landy Award as the best high school football player in north Texas.
At the Under Armour All-America game in Orlando, Fla., earlier this month, Arnold completed 12 of 23 passes for 100 yards and a touchdown and led all rushers with 50 yards on five carries.
Arnold went 28-3 in two seasons as a starter at Denton's Guyer High School and compiled more than 7,000 passing yards and 67 passing touchdowns to eight interceptions (8.4-to-1 ratio). He also rushed for 1,580 yards and 36 touchdowns over his junior and senior seasons, leading Guyer to a 2021 Texas 6A Division 2 state championship appearance and a 2022 semifinal showing. As a senior in 2022, he completed 231 of 336 passes (69%) for 3,476 yards and 33 touchdowns against just three interceptions, averaging 10.4 yards per pass attempt, and also rushed for 921 yards and 24 scores.
"This 2023 class is the 'year of the quarterback,' and there are likely five signal-callers rated among the Top 15 prospects in the country," says Greg Biggins, national recruiting analyst for 247 Sports. "Arnold is in that group and easily among the nation's best. He has the kind of skill set that should make every Oklahoma fan very excited, and it wouldn't shock us if he sees the field sooner than later. He has a live, accurate arm and can put the ball anywhere he wants. He's also a very capable runner and can stress a defense with his arm or his legs. He's a tough kid who will stand in and take a shot and never shies away from contact. He's also a natural leader—a winner. And when you combine his on-the-field prowess with his high-end academic background, he is a very deserving choice for this honor."
Off the field, Arnold served as a classroom aide to a math teacher during his senior year, and throughout his high school career, was a member and former vice president of the Texas Young Men's Service League, which provides opportunities for mothers and sons to perform community service. He graduated from Guyer High School in December with a weighted 4.5 GPA.
In addition to excellence on and off the field of play, Gatorade Players of the Year also pay it forward for the next generation. As part of Gatorade's Play it Forward initiative, Arnold will receive a grant to give to one of Gatorade's social impact partners – Athlete Ally, Laureus USA, Move United, Women's Sports Foundation and Up2Us Sports – supporting Gatorade's ambition to fuel the future of sport.??
"Winning Gatorade Player of the Year is an enormous accomplishment, as it's reserved for the best and brightest high school student-athletes," said Michael Del Pozzo, president and general manager of Gatorade. "Jackson Arnold is a role model for future generations of student-athletes on how to be an all-around leader in sport, in the classroom and in the community."
Each year, a selection committee evaluates the nation's top talent to choose one state winner from each of the 50 states as well as Washington, D.C., in 12 different sports: football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls basketball, baseball, softball, boys and girls soccer, and boys and girls track & field. In all, 608 athletes are honored each year. From the pool of state winners, one national winner is selected in each of the 12 sports.
Players Mentioned
QB
/ FootballBrent Venables Media Availability - 10/14/25
Tuesday, October 14
Ben Arbuckle Media Availability - 10/14/25
Tuesday, October 14
Sooner Sports Talk - 10/13/25
Monday, October 13
Sooner Football With Brent Venables - 10/12/25
Sunday, October 12
