Hugh Freeze: Auburn QB competition is going ‘great’ in spring practice

Somebody new will be under center for Auburn this fall. Exactly who has yet to be determined as Hugh Freeze is overseeing a quarterback competition. Right now, Oklahoma transfer Jackson Arnold and true freshman Duece Knight are on campus competing during spring ball.

Freeze provided the latest on how the competition is going, using the word “great.” He believes competition in general is good for a program, not just the quarterback position. But Freeze can see how Arnold and Knight are elevating their game due to the other.

“The competition is great,” Freeze said. “I don’t think there’s any replacement for that. Until you get that at every position, I think the natural instinct is for most people to remain status quo somewhat. You got someone breathing down your neck when they’re making plays when they get opportunities, it changes things. That’s what I think we’re seeing with Jackson and Duece.

“Get Ashton (Daniels) here this summer and hopefully, it adds a third guy to it. Excited to see the competition. We knew that when we got two full recruiting classes here, that would start being the case. I think it’s right.”

Adding Daniels will only throw another wrench into the decision for Freeze. Daniels has not joined Auburn quite yet, finishing out what he needs to at Stanford. He will participate in summer workouts before putting on the pads in the fall. There might be some catching up to do, though.

Of the trio, Arnold is the only one with experience inside the SEC. Ten appearances in 2024 for Oklahoma, six of which were against conference foes, saw Arnold throw for 1,421 yards, 12 touchdowns, and three interceptions.

His feet were certainly a weapon too, with 444 yards and three touchdowns on 150 carries. Auburn fans will love the performance against Alabama as Arnold guided the Sooners to an upset victory due to 131 yards on the ground.

But Knight might be one of the more popular names on campus. Knight was a big-time recruit for Freeze and deservedly brought a lot of attention. Fans are going to be eager to see the lefty play whenever his time comes.

For now, the competition is playing out, and Freeze is happy with the progress. Auburn is in need of a big 2025 season and the quarterback position may be the determining factor. Getting the decision right is critical for Freeze.