Well, the Gatorade National Player of the Year honors must’ve turned Hugh Freeze’s head. But let’s not forget that Auburn’s QB room has been a revolving door of frustration. Now, Jackson Arnold steps in, hoping to clean up the mess left behind, but Freeze isn’t exactly on solid ground. After a 5-7 flop, he’s selling hope to a fanbase running low on patience. It’s evident that Arnold’s got the talent, but can he be the spark? Sure. Even analyst J.D. PicKell’s calling dibs at him but with a pinch of concern.
Look, Arnold had both highs and lows at Oklahoma last season, accumulating 1,421 yards, 12 TDs, and just 3 interceptions. However, he lost the starting position to Michael Hawkins Jr. during Oklahoma’s SEC opener against Tennessee after three turnovers in the first half led to his benching. The second fumble of the night sealed his fate, leading to Hawkins taking over. Being benched in a highly anticipated game can be mentally taxing, despite starting with high hopes.
That’s exactly what On3’s J.D. PicKell is trying to explain, saying, “I’ll say this too—you talk about Jackson in the context of his career, the question that I had for him, and still have, is – Where he’s at psychologically. He rebounded in a big way last year at Oklahoma, [but he] gets benched early. I can’t imagine what that does to a kid’s confidence.” Look, Jackson Arnold did have his fair share of inconsistencies last season. Remember his struggle to run the ball against the Houston Cougars? He just completed 19 passes for 174 yards with 2 TDs and a pick.
But let’s not forget it was Jackson Arnold because of whom Oklahoma could achieve the unthinkable last season. Yes, their win against Alabama shows the kid has talent. He led the way with 25 carries for 131 yards and also completed 9 of 11 passes for the team. Then, he made his final move to Auburn with tons of expectations and millions of fans eyeing his every move. That sure hits you hard. As J.D. PicKell explains, “He gets called upon again later in the year; he beat Alabama, but you transfer to a new place. It would make a lot of sense to have some internal doubts, some things you’re working through psychologically. I don’t know that to be a fact, but that’s what I would assume just given common sense here.”
With all that, Jackson Arnold is making a massive move for his comeback. As he is shining hard in the spring practice. Because let’s be real, he can’t let Deuce Knight run away with the QB1 position, right? Even his teammates are seeing it. As wide receiver Malcolm Simmons said, “Just his decision-making, him knowing where the ball is supposed to be, and being able to look at the defense and knowing where to throw the ball. We need a good quarterback, somebody to be able to run the offense and run the system that frees the runner.”
Not just that, but even Hugh Freeze is making sure he leaves no stone unturned to ensure Auburn’s success this season.
Hugh Freeze’s massive move for Jackson Arnold
Hugh Freeze is ensuring that the pressure doesn’t solely rest on his future QB1 by surrounding him with support. Despite Auburn’s receiver room already having talent, Freeze was determined to strengthen it further. Following the loss of KeAndre Lambert-Smith, Auburn still had players like Cam Coleman, Malcolm Simmons, Bryce Cain, and Perry Thompson. Well, Freeze made significant moves in the transfer portal, securing top receiver Eric Singleton Jr. from Georgia Tech and former Wake Forest starter Horatio Fields. While Singleton initially made waves, Freeze emphasized the value of adding Fields, calling it a game-changer.
“I love long receivers. Always have,” Freeze said. “I think now we’ve got some of those that fit that mold. And Horatio certainly does. He’s stood out.” At 6-foot-2, 201 pounds, Fields gives Auburn serious size opposite Coleman (6-foot-3). His impressive 50% contested catch rate outshined all Auburn receivers in 2024, as he recorded 39 receptions for 463 yards and four touchdowns during his standout season at Wake Forest.
Beyond his impressive catch radius, Fields also brings physicality to the team. His blocking skills have caught the attention of many during practice sessions. In fact, his run-blocking grade of 68.8 in 2024 was higher than any Auburn receiver’s last season. This is a significant advantage for the offense, especially since they rely heavily on screens and swing passes, with Singleton operating in the slot position and running backs catching passes out of the backfield.
The addition of Fields significantly enhances Auburn’s receiver depth, making them a formidable force. Fields, Coleman, Singleton, and Simmons are leading the way, with Cain, Thompson, and promising freshmen like Sam Turner, Derick Smith, and Erick Smith providing even more firepower. It will be exciting to see how things unfold for the AU Tigers this season.
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