Hugh Freeze announces Deuce Knight will serve as Auburn backup quarterback to Jackson Arnold vs. Ball State

Auburn has revealed its plans for the backup quarterback position ahead of its home opener against Ball State this weekend. Freshman Deuce Knight will get the call if the Tigers turn to the backup.

Coach Hugh Freeze revealed that decision to reporters on Thursday, per On3’s Justin Hokanson. He had not previously announced who would serve as the team’s backup.

Oklahoma transfer Jackson Arnold led the Tigers as the starter against Baylor, putting together a solid effort in a 38-24 win. But because the game was close, Knight did not have a chance to make an appearance as the backup. That could change against Ball State.

Freeze has been pleased with what he’s seen from the freshman. He opened up on his play as fall camp came to a close in mid-August.

“He’s getting better,” Freeze said. “I think, I mean, as far as sitting in there and making the throw, he’s ready. He can do that.”

That’s not to say Knight is fully up to speed. But the freshman’s talent is undeniable.

As a recruit, Knight was rated as a five-star prospect and the No. 25 overall player in the 2025 recruiting class. He also checked in as the No. 5 quarterback and the top overall player in the state of Mississippi. Freeze, though, has some definite areas he wants to see Knight improve in. He broke them down.

“There’s still things; setting protections is new and that’s kind of an issue that he still has growth to do in it,” the Auburn head coach said. “Maybe recognizing, our defense is doing a really nice job of disguising things and all of [the quarterbacks] are missing some of that. It’s even hard for us as coaches when you’re watching film to see it. So they’re doing a nice job. He’s just got to improve in the mental side of it. Physically, he can make all the throws right now.”

So how might Knight, who routinely blazed 4.5-second 40-yard dashes and jumped 40-plus inches vertically on the camp circuit, impact the Tigers this fall? Usage.

“I wouldn’t hesitate to throw him in a game,” Freeze said. “Hopefully we haven’t; we’ll start tomorrow trying to really get these, we haven’t studied, we’ve got the base down plan in but we don’t have, ‘all right, how are we setting these protections?’ So we’ll start working that tomorrow and hopefully all of them will feel better about that aspect of it by mid next week.”