Auburn Receivers React to Jackson Arnold’s Debut: ‘This Is Different’

In a major shift for the Auburn Tigers, head coach Hugh Freeze is turning to new blood at quarterback for the 2025 season. As key players such as Payton Thorne, Walker White, Hank Brown, and Holden Geriner leave through transfers or eligibility expiration, the Tigers are bringing in Jackson Arnold from Oklahoma and highly touted freshman Deuce Knight. Despite losing some established talent, Freeze’s new recruits bring promise, with Arnold already impressing Auburn’s receiving corps.

Arnold’s Potential to Reshape Auburn’s Offense

Auburn struggled through a tough 2024 season, finishing with a disappointing 5-7 record and only two conference wins. Despite this, the arrival of Jackson Arnold—who never had the chance to face Auburn while at Oklahoma—brings renewed hope. Arnold’s time at Oklahoma was solid, with a strong touchdown-to-interception ratio. He completed 154 of 246 passes for 1,421 yards and 12 touchdowns over 10 games, though his average of fewer than six yards per attempt raised questions. Some of this can be attributed to Oklahoma’s injury-ridden receiving corps, which hampered his ability to fully capitalize on his skills.

Looking ahead, there are high expectations for Arnold’s contribution in 2025. Coach Hugh Freeze has already seen promising signs. “Our receivers are like, ‘This is different. This ball is spinning the right way,’” Freeze said during an appearance at the Senior Bowl in Mobile. He also praised Arnold’s ability to master the fundamentals of quarterback play, noting that his high school success as Gatorade Player of the Year speaks to his raw talent.

“I just am a firm believer that—I don’t know, I believe in him,” Freeze continued. “I believe in our system and think he’s a really good fit for it. We can restore whatever confidence he may have lost for whatever reason,” Freeze added, emphasizing Arnold’s work ethic and commitment to improving.

Arnold’s brief time at Oklahoma saw him both starting and being benched. After facing Auburn, he regained his starting role and finished the season as the Sooners’ starting quarterback in their final five games.

College Football Analyst Cautions That Arnold May Not Suit Hugh Freeze’s Offensive System

While the Auburn faithful are excited about the future, there’s some caution in the air. Brad Crawford of 247Sports raised a concern about whether Arnold is the right fit for Freeze’s offensive style. “As bad as the Auburn offense was at times last season from a giveaway standpoint, the Tigers still went downfield often and had success with explosive plays through the air,” Crawford noted. “That’s right—the guy the Sooners temporarily benched during last fall’s spiral could be one of the SEC’s best in 2025. Arnold was sacked 34 times in 10 starts last season, including 16 times total in losses to South Carolina and Ole Miss.”

Crawford added that Auburn’s success with Arnold hinges on Freeze getting the most out of him. “Hugh Freeze has to hit a grand slam with this Arnold acquisition—or else,” he warned.

With the pressure on, fans in eastern Alabama are eager for a revival. If Jackson Arnold lives up to the hype and helps turn Auburn’s fortunes around, the 2025 season could mark a defining moment in the Tigers’ history.