Since taking over at Auburn in 2023, head coach Hugh Freeze has been on a mission to find the quarterback who can elevate the Tigers back to national prominence. That search may finally be over with the arrival of Jackson Arnold, a former five-star recruit and one of the most promising young quarterbacks in the country.
Hugh Freeze Shares Where Auburn QB Jackson Arnold Stands in His Development
“Really excited about Jackson,” Freeze said during a recent appearance on The Paul Finebaum Show. And for good reason.
Arnold, who transferred from Oklahoma after the 2024 season, brings a mix of talent, athleticism, and untapped potential to Auburn’s offense. Coming out of high school, he was ranked as the eighth overall player and the fourth-best quarterback in the 2023 recruiting class.
Hugh Freeze likes what he’s seeing from Jackson Arnold this offseason 👀
“Jackson has all the tools to be one of the top quarterbacks in the nation.” @AuburnFootball pic.twitter.com/k29vfxcCy3
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) April 14, 2025
At Oklahoma, Arnold showed flashes of brilliance, but also experienced growing pains. He completed 62.6% of his passes for 1,421 yards, 12 touchdowns, and just three interceptions across 10 games. On the ground, he added 444 rushing yards and three scores, proof of his dual-threat ability.
However, his transition to Auburn hasn’t been without setbacks. Arnold missed the Tigers’ A-Day spring game due to a minor leg injury. Freeze opted to keep him sidelined out of precaution, emphasizing the importance of keeping his new QB1 healthy heading into the summer.
Despite the missed reps, Freeze remains optimistic about Arnold’s development. He’s impressed with the quarterback’s leadership in the locker room and his football IQ, two qualities critical for success in the SEC.
“He’s learning fast, asking the right questions, and doing the little things that great quarterbacks do,” Freeze said.
That’s a good sign for Auburn, especially with the Tigers set to face a grueling SEC schedule that includes powerhouse programs like Georgia, Texas, and Oklahoma. Having a poised and mobile quarterback like Arnold could give Auburn the edge it needs to compete.
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Fans are understandably eager to see Arnold in action. With his mix of high school pedigree, college experience, and raw talent, he represents the future of Auburn football. And under Freeze’s quarterback-friendly system, there’s a real chance Arnold could blossom into one of the SEC’s top signal-callers by season’s end.
As summer workouts begin and fall camp approaches, all eyes will be on Arnold. If his development continues on the current path, Auburn might have finally found its franchise quarterback.
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