When Oklahoma transfer quarterback Jackson Arnold sat out Auburn’s spring game due to a minor injury, it created room for speculation and stirred excitement—especially after four-star freshman Deuce Knight delivered a strong performance on A-Day. But head coach Hugh Freeze quickly worked to temper the buzz around his young signal-caller.
In an interview Wednesday with Mike Gittens of the War Rapport, Freeze reaffirmed his confidence in Arnold, officially naming the former five-star redshirt sophomore as Auburn’s starting quarterback heading into his third year as head coach.
After back-to-back losing seasons with Payton Thorne under center, including a 5-7 record last year, Freeze knows the pressure is mounting. He’s turning to the more seasoned Arnold in hopes of finally stabilizing the quarterback position.
Hugh Freeze names Jackson Arnold Auburn’s starting QB over Deuce Knight
This offseason, Jackson Arnold and Hugh Freeze proved to be an ideal match. Arnold was looking for a fresh start after losing the starting job at Oklahoma to freshman Michael Hawkins, and Freeze needed a skilled quarterback to lead a roster he’s spent two years carefully building.
Arnold’s struggles at OU were largely due to a depleted receiving corps, hit hard by early-season injuries. At Auburn, he’ll have far more support on the outside, thanks to former five-star Cam Coleman entering his second year and the arrival of Georgia Tech transfer Eric Singleton Jr. But after Deuce Knight’s impressive A-Day showing, Arnold now faces pressure from another talented freshman—just as he did in Norman.
In a way, Freeze is taking on a quarterback reclamation project with Arnold. Like the NFL examples of Tua Tagovailoa under Mike McDaniel or Sam Darnold with Kevin O’Connell, the goal is to rebuild confidence first. That’s why Freeze’s public commitment to Arnold wasn’t just for fans—it was crucial for Arnold’s mindset and for team stability.
It also benefits Knight. The 6-foot-4, 213-pound freshman with dual-threat skills and a strong left arm is full of potential and developing ahead of schedule. Still, Freeze understands the risks of playing a physically gifted young quarterback too early. Rushing Knight could lead to overreliance on athleticism and the formation of bad habits.
Knight has quickly become one of Auburn’s most intriguing long-term assets—possibly even a player who could secure Freeze’s job in the future. That makes his development all the more important. For Freeze, the challenge is clear: he must balance the urgency to win now with the need to protect his program’s future. Quieting talk of a quarterback competition helps accomplish both.