When you have the resources, people expect deliveries! That’s exactly what Hugh Freeze has put himself into. Not everyone can flip the commitment of someone who joined a National Championship finalist but Auburn did. They brought in their future QB Deuce Knight. And their starting QB1? Former Oklahoma QB Jackson Arnold whom they stole from the portal. The Tigers are set to build a fortress around their starter. But recruiting wins don’t always translate to Saturday success.

While Auburn Tigers may look good on the recruiting front compiling top 10 classes for both 2025 and 2026, the trouble for Hugh Freeze is far from over. Can he lead the Tigers to a better record than his past two season records of 6-7 and 5-7? “Hugh Freeze’s seat is getting warm out there on the plains in his second season,” Josh Newberg warned in a new On3 Recruits YouTube short posted on February 23. “They were sub-500 in both seasons. So you would expect the heat to get up.”

Still, the outlook has a promising touch. “But man, can he sell, he can sell this program to recruits,” the analyst added. “Not only did Hugh Freeze land his quarterback of the future in Deuce Knight, flipped him from Notre Dame but he also signed maybe the highest upside quarterback in the portal — Jackson Arnold.” Does he have the necessary weapons that will allow him to thrive in 2025?

Jackson Arnold’s past season stats at Oklahoma pale in comparison to SEC QBs with with 1,421 passing yards, 444 rushing yards, and 15 total TDs. And his meltdown against Tennessee which included three first-half turnovers that led to his benching raised serious doubts. Now, he’s walking into the SEC gauntlet, where Auburn fans have zero tolerance for growing pains. 

Luckily, the supporting cast is there. As Newberg pointed out, “He has some weapons around him, WR1 Eric Singleton Jr. from Georgia Tech, and then you couple him with Cam Coleman who’s already on the roster. And they have the potential to be very dynamic on offense.” Auburn also stacked the trenches in recruiting, bringing in six defensive players who rank among the top 150 — all homegrown Alabama talent. But will it be enough?

Hugh Freeze’s sly Jackson Arnold strategy

The biggest weakness for Auburn last year was the offensive line. We saw Payton Thorne getting sacked 26 times. Hugh Freeze knows he can’t afford another dismal repeat, especially with a new QB under center. So here comes the “quadruple gift,” the Tigers’ top O-line targets that could change the program’s history and give Jackson Arnold the crucial protection he needs. This gift is explored by Zac Blackerby and Darrell Dapprich on Locked on Auburn. 

Darius Gray – “He’s the crown jewel — the one that Auburn wants.” Dominic Harris – Although he has a 3-star rating, early offers from schools like Washington and Arizona State indicate high interest in this 6’7, 335-pound beast. Wilson Zierer – Brother of Auburn player Kilian Zierer. “It looks like he’ll be visiting the Tigers soon.” Dalton Toothman – “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.”

Hugh Freeze knows it’s now or never. He’s pulled off recruiting wins. But when the 2025 season kicks off, all that matters is this. Can Jackson Arnold deliver? And can the HC turn the hype into results before the seat gets too hot to handle?