Hugh Freeze assesses Auburn QB plan in transfer portal with five-star signee Deuce Knight

Hugh Freeze landed one of the best quarterbacks in the country in Deuce Knight in the Class of 2025, but that doesn’t mean Auburn won’t look in the portal.

You need a lot of depth in the QB room and Knight might be good enough to start as a true freshman. Then again, he could develop and redshirt while the veterans battle it out for the 2025 season.

Freeze revealed the Auburn QB plan of attack during National Signing Day Wednesday.

“I’ve told all our guys, obviously we’re really excited about our signing Deuce,” Freeze said, via 247Sports. “I think he’s incredibly talented, and obviously I like Walker (White) and Hank (Brown) too. But you’re going to have four quarterbacks on your roster. I don’t care what school you go to, some may choose to have five, but we’re at least going to have four quarterbacks on our roster, and currently we have three. 

“So we’re looking, you know, obviously, to have a fourth guy in there, and not sure exactly what that looks like right now, because not sure who all is going in the portal and all of that, but excited about getting the work with Deuce, Hank and Walker for sure. And Whoever we add as that fourth guy.”

Knight is an elite prospect and Auburn struck gold landing him.

As a member of the Class of 2025, Knight is a five-star recruit out of Lucedale (Miss.) George County, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He is the No. 2 overall prospect in the state, the No. 5 quarterback in the class and the No. 27 overall prospect in the class.

“Big left-handed signal caller who is the top combine athlete at the position in the 2025 cycle,” Knight’s scouting report reads. “Measured in at 6-foot-4.5, 208 pounds with a 9.75-inch hand at the On3 Elite Series prior to his senior season. Registers as a truly elite athlete at quarterback and one of the best athletes in the 2025 cycle, regardless of position.”

If he’s that good, perhaps Auburn doesn’t need a transfer QB. But Freeze wants to make sure he elevates the room with talent, freshman or transfer.

“Has the potential to see the field early in his college career in a specifically tailored offense,” Knight’s scouting report continues. “With continued development, has the potential to be a program elevating quarterback with significant NFL upside.”