Auburn Tigers football freshman sensation Deuce Knight isn't looking at an exit plan from the Plains with Jackson Arnold set to start ahead of him during the 2025 season. Quite the opposite, actually.
Knight is looking for any opportunity to see the field.
On SI's Brooks Crew, a current AU student with connections to the team, spoke about Knight's ambitions in response to the idea that Arnold is the 2025 season's make-or-break component.
"Arnold could very well be the 'biggest swing player of the entire offseason,' but this season may not be as dependent on him as the world thinks. After all, Deuce Knight, a former four-star, waits in the wings eagerly for his first opportunity– and I guarantee you he doesn’t have an issue starting as a true freshman," Crew wrote.
Knight may have to wait, though.
SEC Network host Cole Cubelic claimed that Stanford transfer Ashton Daniels was brought on to be a stop-gap option until Knight is ready to be the Tigers' QB1. Cubelic didn't sound bullish on 2025 being that time.
“Uber talented, has the ability to be a gigantic playmaker,” Cubelic said Tuesday on The Paul Finebaum Show. “But I think the experience is just not there and he’s not quite ready yet. There’s a reason they brought Ashton Daniels in from Stanford, who’s actually played, who’s actually been a starter. If things don’t get reset or rewired for Jackson Arnold, could be a really nice stopgap until [Knight] is prepared.
“I’ve talked to multiple people in recruiting who say ‘Listen, he’s still raw. He’s not ready to go be a collegiate starter just yet. Doesn’t mean he won’t be great.’ But I don’t look at him being a viable possibility this season.”
Cubelic's intel may not be able to keep pace with Knight's development.
Things change quickly in college football, especially on teams towards the bottom of their conference. Don't write off Knight making more sense to deploy than Daniels if things go awry with Arnold and, by extension, Hugh Freeze.