Auburn, Hugh Freeze still undecided on starting QB for Kentucky game
By Jake Faigus
Published:
It has been a long season for Auburn. The Tigers are 4-4, though each loss has been close. Much of the blame for the failures this season has been put on the offense and, specifically, the quarterback spot.
Following last week’s 33-24 win over Arkansas, Hugh Freeze opened up the quarterback competition between Jackson Arnold and backup Ashton Daniels. Both played in the Week 9 win, with Daniels making his season debut.
When he met with reporters on Thursday, Freeze said the coaching staff was still undecided on the starter for their Week 10 game against Kentucky.
“Both looked really good. They really did. Both, I thought, prepared really well,” Freeze said. “(They) split reps, and a lot of good stuff from both of them. That’s kind of been what practice is like, though. We believe in both of them, but you’ve got to hopefully give us the spark we need to win, and we’ve got to figure out exactly what that is. Jackson’s been incredible in those (opening drives).
“We’ll get together tomorrow and make a decision.”
Arnold has been inconsistent this year, throwing for 1,263 yards and 6 touchdowns. He has completed 63.3% of his passes and has just 2 interceptions, but Auburn ranks dead-last in the SEC in yards per pass attempt, touchdowns thrown, and passer rating. Arnold has also been running for his life in the pocket and sacked 27 times.
Daniels completed 6 of his 8 passes against the Razorbacks for 77 yards.
The Tigers host Kentucky on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET on SEC Network. Auburn is a 10.5-point favorite, per BetMGM.
