Auburn Tigers will have a completely different quarterback lineup in 2025, as many notable names like Payton Thorne, Walker White, Hank Brown, and Holden Geriner are leaving either because of transfer or eligibility expiration. Now Tigers head coach Hugh Freeze has some hopes with the Oklahoma transfer Jackson Arnold and freshman Deuce Knight.
Even though the college football program lost some key players at the QB position, they recruited two former Power House starters, Arnold and Knight. However, Freeze revealed that Auburn receivers were quite impressed by the skills of Arnold on the field.
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Jackson Arnold Might Turn Tables for Auburn Tigers
The Tigers had a rough season, securing only two conference wins and finishing with a lackluster 5-7 record. To add an extra layer of intrigue, Arnold, who transferred from Oklahoma, never got the chance to face his current team in 2024.
On Sept. 28, 2024, head coach Brent Venables benched Arnold in favor of freshman Michael Hawkins Jr. when the Sooners clashed with the Tigers.
Arnold put up solid numbers during his time with the Sooners, boasting an impressive touchdown-to-interception ratio. He completed 154 of 246 passes for 1,421 yards and 12 touchdowns across 10 games, showcasing his efficiency under center.
However, his average of fewer than six yards per attempt raised some eyebrows. Still, that stat doesn’t tell the full story, as Oklahoma’s receiving corps was plagued by injuries, which limited Arnold’s ability to stretch the field.
Now, there are some expectations for Arnold to make his mark in 2025 with the Tigers. Hugh Freeze is quite excited to see him lead the team in the coming season.
“Our receivers are like, ‘This is different. This ball is spinning the right way,'” Freeze said, speaking to reporters Wednesday at the Senior Bowl in Mobile. “I think Jackson just, if you go back to his high school days, you don’t get to become the Gatorade Player of the Year without a great skill set. When I see the way he functions with the fundamentals of that position, with what we want to do, it’s a pretty natural fit.”
“I just am a firm believer that — I don’t know, I believe in him,” Freeze continued. “I believe in our system and think he’s a really good fit for it; we can restore whatever confidence he may have lost for whatever reason,” he added. “He’s in there studying every day, and, man, he doesn’t want to wait around to be great. He’s trying hard now to pick up every drop of knowledge that he can.”
Arnold ended up opening and closing for his former team, as after the Oklahoma-Auburn macthup, he again started in the next game against South Carolina. Then, he appeared as the starter in the Sooners’ final five games.
College Football Analyst Warns About Arnold Not Fitting in With Hugh Freeze’s Offense
Auburn made a lot of noise in the offseason, yet again. However, this time, it came out of necessity since the Tigers needed a drastic turnaround in the coming season. Now, Jackson Arnold is expected to take a leap by the fans, even though he struggled with the Sooners in his freshman year.
Moreover, 247Sports’ Brad Crawford issued a warning for Arnold committing to Hugh Freeze’s offense, since he doesn’t ideally fit as per the playstyle.
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“As bad as the Auburn offense was at times last season from a giveaway standpoint, the Tigers still went downfield often and had success with explosive plays through the air. Those playmaking wideouts return along with a couple additions in the portal. Former Oklahoma signal caller Jackson Arnold should benefit from that along with better play up front,” Crawford wrote.
“That’s right — the guy the Sooners temporarily benched during last fall’s spiral could be one of the SEC’s best in 2025. Arnold was sacked 34 times in 10 starts last season, including 16 times total in losses to South Carolina and Ole Miss. Hugh Freeze has to hit a grand slam with this Arnold acquisition — or else,” he added.
The fans in eastern Alabama are eager for Auburn to win, and if the Tigers manage to fulfill their expectations with Arnold running things, 2025 will definitely be remembered for a long time in Tigers’ history.
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