Jackson Arnold one of the top impact transfer QBs from Week 1
AUBURN — Auburn targeted and brought Jackson Arnold on board for a reason. One week in, the Oklahoma transfer backed up Hugh Freeze and Co.’s decision.
Arnold threw for 108 yards and rushed for a career-high 137 yards and two scores in the Tigers’ 38-24 win over Baylor last Friday night.
“Jackson Arnold may not have put the questions to bed about his passing game in Week 1, but he did more than enough work running the ball to deliver a Week 1 win for Auburn. On the road against Baylor, he rushed for 137 yards on 16 carries, averaging 8.6 yards per carry. He added two rushing touchdowns, becoming the first quarterback since Cam Newton to rush and pass for over 100 yards in their Auburn debut.”
Florida State’s Tommy Castellanos, Cal’s Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, Miami’s Carson Beck and Tennessee’s Joey Aguilar were one through four in Nakos’ ranking.
RELATED: FREEZE HAPPY WITH ARNOLD’S DECISION MAKING, PATIENCE VS. BAYLOR
Arnold was one of Freeze’s top quarterback targets in the transfer portal from the beginning, and Auburn pursued him with that level of priority. While the staff did its due diligence by exploring conversations with other available quarterbacks — gauging mutual interest, assessing fit, and weighing experience — Arnold stood out above the rest.
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Freeze viewed him as the complete package: a player with the physical tools to make every throw, the mobility to extend plays or attack on the ground, and the long-term upside to grow within Auburn’s offense. Beyond the measurables, Freeze believed Arnold’s skill set aligned seamlessly with the spacing, tempo, and RPO-heavy principles of his system, making him the best bet not just for immediate impact but also for building continuity at the position moving forward.
Next up: Ball State and South Alabama, as Arnold and the offense look to sharpen their attack before heading to Oklahoma.
