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Auburn's projected 2025 depth chart puts all the pressure on Jackson Arnold

Oklahoma transfer quarterback Jackson Arnold will need to outperform Payton Thorne and hold off Deuce Knight to keep Hugh Freeze off the hot seat at Auburn.
ByJosh Yourish|
Auburn Tigers head coach Hugh Freeze
Auburn Tigers head coach Hugh Freeze | Jake Crandall/ Advertiser / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Instead of a second-year leap, Hugh Freeze took a step back in Year 2 at Auburn, missing a bowl game altogether. The biggest mistake was sticking with transfer quarterback Payton Thorne for a second season, and now, if Freeze doesn’t get the QB position right in 2025, it could be his final one leading the Tigers. 

The spring transfer portal window wasn’t a particularly active one for Auburn. Most importantly, Freeze avoided any major departures from his program, and that’s all he needed to do after a busy winter window that brought him his next quarterback. 

Freeze is putting his chips in former five-star Jackson Arnold’s basket after a shaky first season as a starter at Oklahoma. After landing back-to-back top 10 recruiting classes, if Arnold reaches his potential at Auburn, the Tigers could be a dark horse SEC contender in 2025. Freeze needs to put a winner on the field down in The Plains, and heading into the summer, the roster looks much improved from last year’s five-game winner. 

Offense: 

QB: 

  1. Jackson Arnold, 15, Sr.
  2. Deuce Knight, 9, Fr.
  3. Ashton Daniels, 14, Sr.

RB: 

  1. Damari Alston, 0, Sr.
  2. Jeremiah Cobb, 23, Jr.
  3. Durell Robinson, R-So.
  4. Alvin Henderson, 22, Fr.

XWR: 

  1. Cam Coleman, 8, So.
  2. Horatio Fields, 5, Sr.

Slot: 

  1. Malcolm Simmons, 4, So.
  2. Bryce Cain, 6, R-Fr.

ZWR: 

  1. Eric Singleton Jr., 1, Jr.
  2. Perry Thompson, 3, So.

TE:

  1. Brandon Frazier, 87, Sr.
  2. Preston Howard, 15, R-Jr.

LT: 

  1. Xavier Chaplin, 65, Jr.
  2. Izavion Miller, 72, Sr.

LG: 

  1. Dillon Wade, 52, Sr.
  2. DeAndre Carter, 78, R-Fr.

C: 

  1. Connor Lew, 75, Jr.
  2. Dylan Senda, 71, So.

RG: 

  1. Jeremiah Wright, 77, Sr.
  2. Seth Wilfred, 56, R-So.

RT: 

  1. Mason Murphy, 76, Sr.
  2. Tyler Johnson, 79, So.

One of Jackson Arnold’s biggest issues at Oklahoma was the Sooners’ lack of wide receiver talent, especially after injuries ravaged that group. He won’t have that same issue at Auburn with 2024 five-star Cam Coleman entering his sophomore year with top transfer portal addition Eric Singleton Jr. across the formation. 

Up front, Auburn should be improved with two transfer portal additions likely earning starting jobs at offensive tackle. Virginia Tech transfer Xavier Chaplin projects as the starting left tackle, and USC transfer Mason Murphy has a chance to top the depth chart at right tackle. 

Defense: 

DE: 

  1. Keldric Faulk, 15, Jr.
  2. Amaris Williams, 10, So.

NT: 

  1. Quientrail Jamison-Travis, 97, Sr.
  2. Dallas Walker IV, 35, Sr.

DT: 

  1. Malik Blocton, 47, So.
  2. Malik Autry, 96, Fr.

OLB: 

  1. Chris Murray, 3, Sr.
  2. Keyron Crawford, 24, Sr.
  3. Jared Smith, 41, Fr.

MLB: 

  1. Robert Woodyard Jr. 0, Jr.
  2. Caleb Wheatland, Sr.
  3. J.J. Faulk, 18, Fr.

WLB: 

  1. Demarcus Riddick, 6, So.
  2. Xavier Atkins, 17, So.

Nickel:

  1. Sylvester Smith, 19, So.
  2. Anquon Fegans, 21, Fr.

CB: 

  1. Kayin Lee, 4, Jr.
  2. Raion Strader, 13, Jr.

CB:

  1. Jay Crawford, 23, So.
  2. Champ Anthony, 1, Jr.

SS: 

  1. Kaleb Harris, 8, So.
  2. Eric Winters, 25, Fr.

FS: 

  1. Taye Seymore, 29, Jr.
  2. Sylvester Smith, 19, R-So.

While elite wide receivers headlined Freeze’s 2024 recruiting class, the focus of the 2025 high school group was improving the defense. Now, five-star defensive tackle Malik Autry and four-star defensive end Jared Smith have the summer to fight for starting reps up front. Even four-star safety Anquon Fegans and linebacker J.J. Faulk could find themselves playing major snaps in their first year on campus.

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