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Jackson Arnold

QB·UNLV#363 overall
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Scouting Report

Jackson Arnold is a dual-threat quarterback from Denton, Texas, who entered college as one of the most decorated recruits of the 2023 cycle. A product of Guyer High School, he won the 2022-23 Gatorade National Football Player of the Year award after throwing for 3,476 yards and 33 touchdowns against just two interceptions while adding 921 rushing yards and 24 ground scores in his senior season. Arnold enrolled early at Oklahoma in January 2023 as one of the top overall prospects in the class and a consensus five-star across all services. At 6-1, 219 pounds, he presents an undersized but athletically gifted profile with a compact, snappy release and above-average speed for the position. His freshman year at Oklahoma included a 361-yard showing in the Alamo Bowl, but his 2024 sophomore starting campaign in the Sooners' inaugural SEC season was derailed by an OC firing, five injured receivers, and poor offensive line play, resulting in 1,421 passing yards, 12 touchdowns, and three interceptions before a mid-season benching. Arnold transferred to Auburn for the 2025 season hoping for a reset under Hugh Freeze, but another turbulent situation yielded 1,309 passing yards, 311 rushing yards, 14 total touchdowns, and three turnovers before he was benched again in late October following a pick-six against Arkansas. Scouts assess that Arnold is a better player than his circumstances have allowed him to be, citing his good arm, quick release, and running ability, while noting that he is streaky and turns the ball over too much. His release speed grades among the quickest in the 2027 QB class, and he shows strong spatial awareness in the pocket and natural touch on intermediate routes. However, his overall draft projection sits in undrafted-to-late-round territory, near the back of the 2027 quarterback class. Arnold has now transferred to UNLV for his final year of eligibility, where the coaching staff that developed a previous transfer into the Mountain West Offensive Player o

Strengths

  • Snappy, compact release with little wasted motion, capable of driving the ball with velocity to all three levels even on a compromised platform
  • natural quick-twitch athlete with explosive short-area burst who consistently makes the first defender miss when extending plays
  • advanced mental processing in the RPO game with clean footwork and decisive reads at the mesh point
  • exhibits strong spatial awareness in the pocket, feeling backside pressure and climbing forward while keeping eyes downfield
  • creates throwing lanes despite size limitations by manipulating arm angles and using subtle pocket movement
  • shows physicality unusual for his frame in the running game, running through arm tackles
  • natural touch and timing on intermediate routes, particularly on deep crossers and seam throws
  • good runner with above-average speed relative to position and open-field lateral nuance (921 rush yards and 24 TDs in final high school season)

Weaknesses

  • Below-average height at 6-1 raises concerns about sustaining clean throwing lanes in an NFL pocket
  • deep ball accuracy inconsistent, with velocity-generated passes tending to sail and touch throws hanging to allow defensive recovery
  • has been benched at two consecutive Power 4 programs (Oklahoma 2024, Auburn 2025), raising durability and consistency questions
  • prone to turnover clusters, turning the ball over at critical moments including pick-sixes
  • still developing full-field reads, with a tendency to lock onto the primary target and miss backside opportunities
  • production has been modest relative to recruiting pedigree (1,309 yards at Auburn, 1,421 at Oklahoma) in challenging situations
  • slight frame and limited weight at 219 pounds invite questions about long-term durability against NFL pass rushers

NFL Comparison

Taylor Heinicke (similar compact frame, quick release, mobility, and competitiveness); Jalon Daniels (comparable dual-threat profile with boom-or-bust consistency concerns); Devin Leary

College Stats

2023 (Oklahoma, freshman): Limited appearances, 7 games; notable Alamo Bowl start: 361 passing yards; 2024 (Oklahoma, sophomore starter): 1,421 passing yards, 12 TDs, 3 INTs, 444 rushing yards, started 9 of 10 games played; 2025 (Auburn, junior): 1,309 passing yards, 63.3% completion rate, 6 passing TDs, 2 INTs, 311 rushing yards, 14 total TDs, 3 turnovers total, benched late October

Measurables

Height
6'1"
Weight
219
40-Yd
4.67

Awards & Honors

2022-23 Gatorade National Football Player of the Year; consensus five-star recruit and one of the top overall prospects in the 2023 class; Texas District 5-6A Co-MVP as a junior (2021); led Denton Guyer to Class 6A Division II state championship game