Ahead of this weekend's matchup between the Auburn Tigers and the Kentucky Wildcats, head coach Hugh Freeze said there would be an open competition between quarterbacks Jackson Arnold and Ashton Daniels for the starting job.
Daniels made his Auburn debut last Saturday against Arkansas, coming into the game with less than a minute left in the first half after Arnold threw an interception in the red zone. The Tigers were down 11 at the half, but under Daniels' leadership, they staged a comeback for a 33-24 win over the Razorbacks.
Freeze has been hesitant to name a starter this week, but reports indicate that Daniels has taken the majority of first-team reps at practice. Daniels said he is prepared to take on whatever role he is given this Saturday, whether or not he is the starter.
"Whatever I'm asked to do, whatever I can do to help this team win, I'll be ready to do," Daniels said after Tuesday's practice, per Auburn Undercover. "The message is the same every single week: Be prepared, because you never know what's going to happen."
In his first game as a Tiger, Daniels completed six of his eight pass attempts for 77 yards and added 35 more rushing yards, and he said he would relish the opportunity to get the starting nod against the Wildcats.
"That would mean the world," Daniels said. "This community, the environment, the atmosphere in Jordan-Hare — it's nothing I've ever seen before. That Georgia game, that Missouri game — I was out there just blacking out. It was amazing. No matter if I play or not, I'm going to be extremely excited to play in that atmosphere, be around our fans and hopefully give them something they want to see."
Auburn and Kentucky will kick off at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday from Jordan-Hare Stadium.