Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze has officially named Jackson Arnold as the team’s starting quarterback. When asked by Mike Gittens of The War Rapport about the position, Freeze responded quickly and clearly:
“Yeah, he is,” Freeze said without hesitation.
However, Freeze’s following remarks highlighted the coaching staff’s broader quarterback strategy, which includes offensive coordinator Derrick Nix and quarterbacks coach Kent Austin.
“Deuce Knight is going to be outstanding. He had a strong spring and was a pleasure to coach,” Freeze said. “He’s one of the most accountable freshmen I’ve been around—no excuses, eager to learn, wants feedback, and has a great arm with serious talent.”
Freeze also expanded on his expectations for Arnold, who transferred from Oklahoma after a challenging year in Seth Littrell and Joe Jon Finley’s offense. His endorsement of Arnold not only affirmed his starting role but also indicated that another quarterback on the roster would see limited opportunities.
That quarterback is Ashton Daniels, a transfer from Stanford. Daniels will likely serve as the third-string QB this fall, behind Arnold and Knight, unless injuries occur or the top two are unexpectedly unready.
Such a scenario appears unlikely, especially given how well both Arnold and Knight performed this spring—despite Arnold missing A-Day due to a leg injury.
Daniels, who has one year of eligibility and a redshirt season left, may be headed for a redshirt in 2025 with an eye on transferring elsewhere for a final season in 2026. However, with the transfer portal window closed as of April 25, he wouldn’t be able to move to another SEC school under current rules.
