Hugh Freeze addresses if Auburn will pursue a quarterback in spring transfer portal

With how the room has changed over this offseason and with the amount he likes to have, Hugh Freeze could look for another quarterback to add in the portal during this spring. That’ll just depend, though, on how they want to utilize their remaining roster spots for Auburn.

Freeze was asked if the Tigers would look at another quarterback, considering he would prefer four on scholarship, in the upcoming transfer window next week following A-Day on Saturday. He said it’s something their staff has discussed a lot roster-wise coming out of the spring with possible needs at other positions as well. Freeze also recognizes that it might be difficult to bring in another one with the three who will already be competing for their job next fall.

“You know, that’s a, that is the – we have, have been discussing that every personnel meeting because I think the game is, uh, changing,” said Freeze. “You know, I haven’t heard the latest on the settlement but it, um, it’s going to be difficult to – you’re going to have to model it after an NFL roster, I think, eventually and that lends to, do we go with three and, and use the extra on a big somewhere, whether it be O-line or D-line.”

“We haven’t made that final determination yet and, you know, some of it will probably depend on what’s available. I think it’s probably going to be a pretty hard sell, um, maybe, you know, so that, that’s, that’s something we’re still determining,” Freeze said. “But, the positions? You never will turn down, um, interior D-linemen or pass rusher, um, or some guys with experience. I really like our young linebackers. Could we use one that has some experience, if ones available? Probably so. And, um, never turn down a great cover guy either.”

Auburn has four quarterbacks on the roster with three on scholarship. Jackson Arnold, a transfer from Oklahoma, and Deuce Knight, a five-star signee, have battled it out at the position this spring while they await this summer’s arrival of Ashton Daniels, a transfer from Stanford. That’s already a pretty competitive room with two veterans with starting experience at power schools and a recruit with that kind of pedigree. Still, considering the Tigers played four quarterbacks at points last season, another might be an addition worth it for them at a position on their roster.

For now, Freeze feels comfortable with where Auburn is on that side of the football, including at quarterback. That is, he’s comfortable with where they are depending on any portal entries they themselves will have from their offense.

“I think offensively we’re pretty, pretty set provided, you know, obviously, we’ve got to retain our roster too with another portal coming,” said Freeze.