At the Regions Tradition celebrity pro-am, Hugh Freeze left no room for doubt when addressing Auburn’s quarterback situation.
“Jackson’s our No. 1,” Freeze stated, officially naming Oklahoma transfer Jackson Arnold as Auburn’s starting quarterback. Arnold, who arrived in January, had been widely expected to earn the role after taking first-team reps throughout spring practice. He was also a key target for Auburn in the transfer portal this offseason.
However, Arnold wasn’t the only quarterback addition. Auburn also brought in five-star freshman Deuce Knight and Stanford transfer Ashton Daniels, revamping a quarterback room that saw all four scholarship players from last season depart. That overhaul could prove beneficial—quarterback play has been a weak spot for the Tigers since Freeze took over in 2023. Payton Thorne started most games over the past two seasons, but neither he nor the backups consistently performed at the level needed to secure wins in close contests.
Despite his confidence in Arnold, Freeze made it clear he wants competition.
“I want Jackson to feel like it’s his job and gain that confidence,” Freeze said. “But I also want him to feel the pressure when Deuce and Ashton have strong practices. I want both.”
Daniels brings two years of Power Four starting experience from his time at Stanford in the Pac-12 and ACC, totaling 3,947 passing yards, 21 touchdowns, and 20 interceptions. While his stats may not stand out, he adds a veteran presence and mobility to the depth chart.
Knight, though inexperienced at the college level, impressed the coaching staff during spring practices—especially since Daniels hadn’t yet arrived on campus. Freeze and his staff have praised Knight’s potential, and he could currently hold a slight edge in the race for the backup job.
Freeze hasn’t named a No. 2 quarterback yet, but both Knight and Daniels present strong cases heading into fall camp. Knight’s spring participation may give him a temporary advantage, though the competition remains open.
Overall, Freeze believes Auburn boasts one of the stronger quarterback groups in the SEC. With two signal-callers bringing starting experience, the Tigers have rare depth at the position—a strength Freeze hopes will pay dividends, even with the starter already chosen.
