Auburn head football coach Hugh Freeze shared effusive praise for the exact qualities Jackson Arnold and Deuce Knight bring to the table that give the Tigers' quarterback room a fighting chance to turn the ship around in 2025 and beyond.
On Arnold, Freeze sees the 5-star qualities that made Arnold the 2023 cycle's No. 4 QB.
“Jackson Arnold, very optimistic. He’s got a calm demeanor and confidence. He understands ball. He has a high football IQ. Arm strength is good. There’s a reason he was Gatorade Player of the Year coming out of high school,” Freeze said Tuesday morning, per AL.com.
“I think he needed a (restart) to regain some confidence. I think he’s doing that at a fast, fast pace. His decision-making has been on point. I think he’s throwing a very accurate ball. Really impressed with his pocket presence when the traffic is around him, where his eyes are. They stay downfield. He uses his legs when he needs to.”
As for Knight, Freeze sees coachable traits that could make him moldable under his, offensive coordinator Derrick Nix, and QB coach Kent Austin's sets.
“Deuce’s maturity is way farther along than what I even knew. He’s hungry to learn and is always asking questions, always wanting to talk about how to improve this and that,” Freeze said. “He’s an extremely hard worker that you have to run off the field. He’ll throw too much. They’re getting a lot of throws, because there’s only two of them right now. You’ve got to monitor that. But I’m really pleased with both of those guys right out.”
Freeze bringing on Arnold made some worry that Knight wouldn't stay long on the Plains for long, with the starting job out of reach for up to three years. Cam Newton's not-so-welcoming pushback on Knight wearing the No. 2 didn't help matters.
It appears Knight is content wearing No. 9 and earning his keep in AU's QB room, though. Hopefully, that stays the case.