“Damaged player,” huh? That’s what Greg McElroy threw out there about Jackson Arnold. And he wasn’t alone. Whispers in the wind suggest plenty shared that sentiment. Now, Arnold’s gearing up for his first game on the Plains in 2025, and while top recruits are making their rounds, Auburn’s doing more than just talk. They’re laying the groundwork, literally, in the trenches. See, the Tigers are pulling in offensive linemen visits like they’re going out of style. They’re building a fortress, plain and simple, a wall of steel around their QB. Hugh Freeze? He’s not buying into any of the doubters. He’s answering with a show of force, a powerhouse O-line overhaul. A quadruple gift to protect Arnold and shut down the noise.

In a recent episode of Locked On Auburn, Zac Blackerby and Darrell Dapprich broke down Auburn football’s prime position to land elite offensive linemen for the 2026 class. And when it came to Auburn’s top targets, Zac laid out the first name in the Tigers’ ‘quadruple gift’. “I want to start with Darius Gray. He’s a five-star on the 247 composite. He’s a four-star some places, but a guy that will be on Auburn’s campus from Richmond, Virginia—an interior offensive lineman. Darius Gray, I like what this kid has on tape,” said Zac.

However, hearing that name, Dapprich didn’t hold back, making it clear just how big of a deal this would be for Auburn. He said, “He [Gray] would be, obviously, the highest-rated offensive lineman if Auburn was to get him in this upcoming class. He’s the crown jewel—the one that Auburn wants.” Dapprich is liking how Auburn’s casting a wide net for offensive linemen, pulling in talent from all over the map. And following that, the second name appeared.

The next up in Auburn’s quadruple gift—Dominic Harris, a towering presence from Las Vegas, Nevada. But Auburn fans might raise an eyebrow at his three-star rating. However, Zac Blackerby quickly set the record straight.

“Dominic Harris, a kid from Las Vegas, Nevada. Las Vegas, Nevada, Clark High School. Three-star, which I think some Auburn fans look at that like, ‘Oh, come on, we’re only taking four- and five-stars now.’ But this is a guy that, once again, like when you look at offensive lines throughout the country, has all the offers from schools around them. You know, in that part of the country—your Utah, your Arizonas, Arizona State, Washington. Washington played for a national championship two years ago. Arizona State was in the College Football Playoff last year. Dominic Harris, 6’7″, 335 pounds,” said Zac.

And Dapprich concurred with Zac, saying, “That’s a significantly big boy to have. You know that someone at 6’7″ is going to have a nice long radius too—long arm reach.” He added, “Again, I love the footprint here that Auburn’s going all the way out to Las Vegas. Clark High School, which is a big high school, has, you know, a pretty good, nice football tradition.”

Blackerby wasn’t done yet—he rounded out Auburn’s quadruple gift with two more names to watch. “This name may sound familiar because his brother played here—Wilson Zierer. He’s a kid from Georgia. Of course, his brother, Killian Zierer, played for the Auburn Tigers, and he’s unranked so far, at least on 247. So, you got to think that his rating will shoot up once he’s starting to get ranked by some of these publications. But he’s got offers from Auburn and Alabama and then some smaller schools. So, kind of an interesting recruitment early on for Wilson Zier, but it looks like he will be visiting the Tigers soon,” said Zac Blackerby.

And then came the final name on the list—Dalton Toothman, a force in the trenches.”The last guy that I think is worth mentioning—Dalton Toothman. 6’5″, 295. He’s from Ocean Springs, Mississippi, but he’s put together a nice list as well. He plans to visit the Tigers. Three-star guy, but he has offers from Florida, LSU, and Florida State, and of course, Auburn as well,” said Zac.

Last season, Auburn’s offensive line was a sieve, plain and simple. Payton Thorne, their QB1, got sacked 26 times, barely an improvement from the year before. So, yeah, they desperately need a brick wall upfront. That’s a big draw for recruits too, especially with Jake Thornton, their offensive line coach, in the mix. And with Arnold and 5-star QB Deuce Knight joining the squad, the Tigers are definitely on the upswing.

With those four linemen shoring up the front, Freeze is clearly investing in Arnold’s success. Yet, despite the protection, Arnold’s stock has taken a dive, and doubts are looming. So why the sudden drop, and what’s the root cause?

Challenges facing Hugh Freeze’s new QB

Back in December, Auburn made it official—signing the highest-rated QB, Jackson Arnold, in school history. Yes, Arnold had solid numbers at Oklahoma, racking up 1,421 passing yards. Not only this, he also recorded 444 rushing yards and 15 total TDs. But his nightmare against Vols—three first-half turnovers and a benching—changed everything. And now, the big question remains—can Auburn truly trust him to lead the Tigers?

Not sure, but RJ Young didn’t hold back, and he dropped a reality check. Young stated, “There’s a world of difference between Jackson Arnold and Garrett Nussmeier. There’s a world difference between Jackson Arnold and Arch Manning in production.” So, right now, Arnold’s numbers don’t stack up. And you know, in the SEC QB race, he’s got serious ground to cover.

To be honest, if he wants to silence the doubters, it won’t come easy. However, blood, sweat, and relentless work—that’s what it’ll take to earn back trust. And Young put it best, stating, “As much as I really want Jackson Arnold to succeed, I do. It’s going to be difficult. You’re going to have to show a lot more. You’re going to have to develop into the kind of five-star prospect that we all think that you’re capable of being.” Auburn’s commitment to quarterback development will be put to the test. They must provide the necessary environment, support, and coaching to maximize their quarterbacks’ potential. And, on the flip side, can Freeze’s QB repay that faith and win back the crowd in the 2025 season?