Oklahoma publication unfavorably ranks Auburn football QB Jackson Arnold among SEC QBs
Auburn football QB Jackson Arnold didn’t have a stellar freshman season with the Sooners. If he did, he’d probably still be looked at as Oklahoma’s great hope. Instead, Arnold’s looking for a second chance in his second collegiate season.
Ipso facto, the Oklahoman’s Ryan Aber listed Arnold as the 12th-best QB in the SEC ahead of the 2025 season — ahead of Alabama’s Ty Simpson, Mississippi State’s Blake Shapen, Missouri’s Beau Pribula, and Kentucky’s Zach Calzada.
“The TIgers’ offense was boom or bust this season, struggling with turnovers for much of the year. Enter Arnold, who had a rough first season as a starter with 1,421 yards and 12 touchdowns with just three interceptions though he struggled with ball-security issues. Arnold rushed for 444 yards and three touchdowns. Much of his struggles were tied into the lack of protection from OU’s offensive line and a lack of targets among wide receivers. Arnold still has the potential that made him one of the most coveted quarterbacks in the 2023 class,” Aber wrote.
Interestingly enough, the opinion on Arnold isn’t unanimous. The Knoxville News Sentinel’s John Adams credited Arnold for being one of the primary reasons the Tigers could be the No. 5 team in the conference.
“The Tigers could be the most improved team in the league – in part, because they underachieved in 2024. Adding former Oklahoma quarterback Jackson Arnold and former Georgia Tech wide receiver Eric Singleton from the transfer portal should do wonders for the Tigers offense,” Adams wrote.
Split polarizing opinions on Arnold are indicative on where public perception is on AU heading into the 2025 season. While they have the talent to win, Hugh Freeze’s hit-or-miss coaching record on the Plains has many hesitant to crown the Tigers anything more than a team with a lot of potential.
