Auburn appeared to have resolved its quarterback dilemma this offseason when Jackson Arnold, a former five-star recruit and transfer from Oklahoma, committed to the Tigers. However, he may not be the sole solution.
Auburn’s coach Hugh Freeze mentioned on his weekly radio broadcast Monday that the top three quarterbacks on the roster — Arnold, Ashton Daniels, a transfer from Stanford, and five-star true freshman Deuce Knight — might see action in the season opener on Aug. 30 at Baylor.
«This player left some excellent teams behind, like Clemson and Notre Dame,» Freeze remarked about Daniels, as reported by Auburn Undercover. «He possesses an additional gear. And there’s always a spot for that.»
Regarding Knight, Freeze noted that the freshman «is capable of making any throw on the field, and he exudes a unique poise for a freshman.»
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Even if Daniels or Knight plays for just a series or a single play here and there, Freeze’s remarks certainly raise eyebrows. Arnold was ranked as the No. 10 overall recruit in the 2023 class according to 247Sports’ rankings, coming in as the No. 4 quarterback behind Arch Manning, Nico Iamaleava, and Dante Moore.
Arnold faced challenges in his first season as the starter for the Sooners, accruing only 1,421 passing yards and 12 touchdown passes over 10 games last year. His 5.8 yards per attempt placed him at No. 118 among 119 Division I players with passer ratings. Nevertheless, he did have standout moments with Oklahoma, including a 24-3 victory against Alabama where he rushed 25 times for 131 yards.
Auburn’s acquisition of Arnold was perceived as a success for Freeze, who is entering a pivotal Year 3 on The Plains after a combined record of 11-14 (5-11 SEC) in his initial two seasons. Instead, Freeze seems to be — at the very least — exploring his other quarterbacks.
Daniels had a season with 10 touchdown passes and an ACC-high 12 interceptions while at Stanford, but he also rushed for 669 yards.
Meanwhile, Knight ranked as the No. 56 recruit and the No. 6 quarterback in the 2025 recruiting class. Another significant recruiting achievement for Freeze — Knight was initially committed to Notre Dame — he possesses the ideal quarterback dimensions (6-foot-4 and 217 pounds) and remarkable athleticism. Here is an excerpt from the scouting report by 247Sports director of scouting Andrew Ivins:
Dual-threat lefty with an outstanding testing profile that has steadily improved as a passer, but remains a work in progress as he begins his collegiate journey. Displays a smoother throwing motion and can deliver the ball sharply to the second and third levels, but his accuracy may fluctuate and disrupt drives. He excels when moving left and looking to exploit the perimeter, particularly on out-breaking routes at or beyond the sticks. He can also threaten a defense vertically with his arm strength, but must enhance his ability to operate within a structured framework and progress through his reads.
Auburn is favored by 2.5 points on the road against Baylor, per FanDuel.
