Auburn head coach [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag]’s decision to not pursue a transfer quarterback following the 2023 season quickly haunted him. This offseason, he is learning from his miscalculation by overhauling the Tigers’ entire quarterback room ahead of the 2025 season.
Auburn’s newest quarterback situation has earned a spot within The Athletic’s 10 most interesting quarterback situations list. Antonio Morales of The Athletic is interested in seeing how Freeze and the Tigers adjust to additions [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag] and [autotag]Ashton Daniels[/autotag], and if Auburn’s inconsistencies at the position continue.
Neither is a sure bet to hit, but Auburn does have solid talent at receiver, which should help whoever starts at quarterback. Both are run threats, which is beneficial for Freeze’s offense, too. Having those two also means that four-star signee and top-50 prospect Deuce Knight doesn’t have to play right away. The Tigers flipped Knight from Notre Dame and held off a late Ole Miss push. His development will be something to monitor.
Although Daniels is the more experienced quarterback of the two, Arnold appears to be the guy to beat heading into spring practice. Arnold, the former five-star recruit and Texas Gatorade Player of the Year, passed for 1,421 yards and 12 touchdowns for Oklahoma in 2024. He eclipsed the 200-yard mark in passing twice last season, and rushed for 131 yards in the Sooners’ win over Alabama in November.
Auburn also added former South Carolina quarterback [autotag]Tanner Bailey[/autotag] to its room following the transfer of [autotag]Walker Whit[/autotag]e to Baylor. Auburn’s three transfer additions are being used to buy time for the development of true freshman [autotag]Deuce Knight[/autotag], who is seen as “the future” of the offense.
The winning quarterback will be tasked with producing at a higher rate than last season’s starter, Payton Thorne, who passed for 2,713 yards and 21 scores in 2024. Thorne ended the year by completing 62.8% of his passes and reaching a career-best quarterback rating of 150.8.
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