It was back in his high school, Guyer, when Jackson Arnold first got the whiff of the spotlight and un-nerving challenge. As fate would have it, the usual starter for HC Rodney Webb was out of the 2021 State Championship game due to a knee injury. Up next was the freshman Arnold who Webb still recalls as, “I can just remember a young, big-eyed freshmen kid with hair hanging down on his face. And I remember in that moment of time, this is going to kill him or make him stronger, and it made him stronger.” A freshman starting in a do-or-die Championship game is certainly some pressure.

As a 5-star recruit out of Denton, Texas, who led the team with 3,931 yards passing and 34 touchdowns, Arnold has always proven his doubters wrong as he brought the State Championship home. Last year, he again faced another challenge – A hyped quarterback with all the skills was benched during Oklahoma’s SEC opener against Tennessee after three turnovers in the first half. What was worse was with Hawkins, OU thrived. Hence, with another possible-career- stunting experience, you would guess, ‘Is this it?’ Cue Hugh Freeze and the Auburn Tigers.

Jackson entered the transfer portal determined to rebuild his resume. Freeze, who also needed a QB after an unimpressive 5-7 flop, targeted the Texan. Although Arnold is now showing all the signs to be the primary caller for the Tigers in the Spring Practices, Webb’s words echo again – This is going to kill him or make him stronger. So, did it make him stronger again? Analyst J.D. PicKell sheds light.

On3’s PicKell questioned, “Can Jackson Arnold get it to your playmakers?” While breaking down a clip from the spring practice session at Auburn where Arnold throws a dime to Coleman, PicKell answered his own question.

He said, “I’ll say this too—you talk about Jackson in the context of his career, the question that I had for him, and still have, is – Where he’s at psychologically? He rebounded in a big way last year at Oklahoma, [but he] gets benched early. I can’t imagine what that does to a kid’s confidence.”

Look, Jackson Arnold did have his fair share of inconsistencies last season. Remember his struggle to run the ball against the Houston Cougars? He just completed 19 passes for 174 yards with 2 TDs and a pick.

As J.D. PicKell explains, “He gets called upon again later in the year; he beat Alabama, but you transfer to a new place. It would make a lot of sense to have some internal doubts, some things you’re working through psychologically. I don’t know that to be a fact, but that’s what I would assume just given common sense here… I don’t know that we explore enough the other potential outcome from the Oklahoma situation for Jackson Arnold.”

But let’s not forget it was Jackson Arnold because of whom Oklahoma could achieve the unthinkable last season– Their win against Alabama. He led the way with 25 carries for 131 yards and also completed 9 of 11 passes for the team. But closing the season with two more years of eligibility remaining, he made his final move to Auburn with tons of expectations and millions of fans eyeing his every move. That sure tickles your nerves.

“I think it’s very fair to wonder ‘Did that maybe harden him a little bit?’ That’s something that maybe is the edge for Jackson Arnold. ‘Cause think about it this way, the worst thing that could possibly happened to Jackosn Arnold from a competitive perspective, happened a year ago. All the hype, 5-star, next guy at Oklahoma, all this. Game days in town, Herbie and Fowler on the call, big time matchup against Tennessee, at home; you get benched! Can you imagine where he was emotionally with that? The mental strain that has to be there on the kid with all the buzz around him coming into the season and you get benched on the National TV?

“The worst thing happened. It all crumbled for him. I wonder if as much as that messed with him, Jackson Arnold’s still standing. Still playing college football, still playing in the SEC, got the starting job. Like the worst thing happened and he’s still here. I wonder if there’s a twisted part of him that great competitors have. Maybe frees him a little bit. Maybe allows him to play with a little bit less anxiety or a little bit less worry about what’s gonna happen in the next play. The worst thing happened and he’s still here and he’s gonna start.”

Now, Jackson Arnold is making a massive move for his comeback in the spring practice. See, it was a given that he was entering Auburn to be the QB1 for Freeze. The HC even stated his thoughts on the signing, “The fit he is for our offense and for Auburn, I couldn’t be more excited. He’s a dual-threat guy who understands the RPO system extremely well and throws the deep ball extremely well.”

Talking about his sport IQ, he has some advanced mental processing set in place. He has a clean footwork, makes decisive reads, and manages the mesh point like a true veteran who is bringing the SEC experience to the Tigers. And if pressure is the barrier, well, he has shown glimpses of returning from the adversity in final quarters even against top-ranked teams. Even his teammates are seeing it.

As wide receiver Malcolm Simmons said, “Just his decision-making, him knowing where the ball is supposed to be, and being able to look at the defense and knowing where to throw the ball. We need a good quarterback, somebody to be able to run the offense and run the system that frees the runner.” 

And if we talk about his recent clip from the Spring practice where he launches a dime to Cam Coleson, you can see his confidence. He doesn’t twitch, he doesn’t take time, yet, the deep pass shows his potential.

Not just that, but even Hugh Freeze is making sure he leaves no stone unturned to ensure Auburn’s success this season.

Hugh Freeze’s massive move for Jackson Arnold

Hugh Freeze is ensuring that the pressure doesn’t solely rest on his future QB1 by surrounding him with support. Despite Auburn’s receiver room already having talent, Freeze was determined to strengthen it further. Following the loss of KeAndre Lambert-Smith, Auburn still had players like Cam Coleman, Malcolm Simmons, Bryce Cain, and Perry Thompson. Well, Freeze made significant moves in the transfer portal, securing top receiver Eric Singleton Jr. from Georgia Tech and former Wake Forest starter Horatio Fields. While Singleton initially made waves, Freeze emphasized the value of adding Fields, calling it a game-changer.

“I love long receivers. Always have,” Freeze said. “I think now we’ve got some of those that fit that mold. And Horatio certainly does. He’s stood out.” At 6-foot-2, 201 pounds, Fields gives Auburn serious size opposite Coleman (6-foot-3). His impressive 50% contested catch rate outshined all Auburn receivers in 2024, as he recorded 39 receptions for 463 yards and four touchdowns during his standout season at Wake Forest.

Beyond his impressive catch radius, Fields also brings physicality to the team. His blocking skills have caught the attention of many during practice sessions. In fact, his run-blocking grade of 68.8 in 2024 was higher than any Auburn receiver’s last season. This is a significant advantage for the offense, especially since they rely heavily on screens and swing passes, with Singleton operating in the slot position and running backs catching passes out of the backfield.

The addition of Fields significantly enhances Auburn’s receiver depth, making them a formidable force. Fields, Coleman, Singleton, and Simmons are leading the way, with Cain, Thompson, and promising freshmen like Sam Turner, Derick Smith, and Erick Smith providing even more firepower. It will be exciting to see how things unfold for the AU Tigers this season.