Vanderbilt was one of the most intriguing dark horses last season, taking down several high-profile programs. For instance, they managed to defeat giants like Alabama, so facing Auburn seemed like it would be an easy victory, right? That’s exactly what unfolded, as Vanderbilt handed Auburn their sixth loss of the season with a score of 17-7. In response, Auburn’s head coach, Hugh Freeze, went back to the drawing board and seriously considered a change at quarterback. “When you start thinking big picture, as opposed to one of your players (Payton Thorne) that really hasn’t done anything wrong, but we certainly aren’t winning. And so we’re debating all of that this week,” Freeze said. The QB change didn’t happen, and Hugh Freeze might have lost all hope and would have thought, “never again.” At least that’s what the head coach did.

Jackson Arnold, a five-star quarterback from Oklahoma in the 2023 class, entered the scene after a season in the SEC, where he accumulated 1,421 passing yards and 444 rushing yards. One might assume that this would ease head coach Hugh Freeze’s concerns about the quarterback position. However, that wasn’t the case. Freeze turned to the transfer portal once again, bringing in Ashton Daniels from Stanford, who had a season with over 2,300 passing yards. You would think this development would finally satisfy Freeze regarding his quarterback situation, but that wasn’t really the case either.

The head coach tussled in the recruitment market with none other than the giants, Notre Dame, and snatched Deuce Knight from them for his 2025 class. This wasn’t a mere acquisition but a statement that the horrors of the past year would never even surface. And Deuce Knight, a dual-threat 5-star prospect who produced almost 7,500 yards in his high school career, guaranteed that. The QB room was star-studded and probably one of the best in the SEC. But then came the looming question: Who would be the QB1?

The QB1 question has been looming since the spring practices started, and now Hugh Freeze has come out with a definite answer. “I said this somewhere here recently: Jackson is the number one.” But the head coach declared the position to be coming with a few caveats.

“Do I want him (Jackson Arnold) to be pushed by Deuce and Ashton every single day? Absolutely. Do I want Jackson feeling like it’s his and him getting that confidence and swagger? Yes. Do I want him looking over his shoulder thinking, ‘Dang, Deuce and Ashton had two really good practices today’? Yes, I want both.” The message is simple: Hugh Freeze is preparing his boys for what’s to come in 2025, and he wants them to be tougher than they anticipate.

Jackson Arnold undoubtedly looks to be fit for the QB1 spot. The guy has got the dual-threat talent far better than last year’s QB, Payton Thorne. Moreover, he started seven games, all in the SEC, last year. Add to that Arnold’s ability to extend plays and notch the ‘dirty yards’ in Hugh Freeze’s offense. You just got an SEC-ready quarterback in your room.

Still, the healthy competition the head coach is talking about is also important, and it’s not that the two QBs don’t have the qualities to do just that. All in all, Arnold will have to be in his top form throughout the season if he wants to remain the QB1.

Hugh Freeze lands commitment of a 5-star RB?

Hugh Freeze, in his two years at Auburn, has delivered back-to-back losing seasons. The team went 6-7 in his first year in 2023, and next season? The team regressed even more as it finished 5-7 overall and 2-6 in the SEC. However, despite the woes on the field, the head coach has consistently produced top classes. The 2024 class was ranked 8th nationally with top prospects like Cam Coleman and Perry Thompson, and the 2025 class? Well, it again is ranked 8th and has Deuce Knight as its crown jewel. Naturally, the 2026 class would be leaning towards a more excellent finish, right?

The class is ranked 13th nationally right now and boasts commitment from Hezekiah Harris, the 15th-ranked Edge of the cycle. But the head coach isn’t stopping here, as he is after the 5-star RB Derrek Cooper. The Tigers’ coach, Derrick Nix, visited the RB recently on Monday, as On3 posted about the update. “Auburn coach Derrick Nix visited elite RB Derrek Cooper on Monday. Cooper ranks No. 34 NATL. (No. 3 RB) In the 2026 class.”

Surely if Derrick Nix could successfully sway the running back to his program, it would undoubtedly be a coup. Since the 2026 class, amongst its 7 commits, doesn’t yet have a running back. So getting the commitment of a running back, and that too a five-star? Let’s keep it coming. That being said, the on-field results will have to improve too this season for Hugh Freeze; otherwise, even his incredible recruiting won’t be able to save his job.