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ATLANTA — 9 months after hitting “all-time low” when he was benched at Oklahoma, Jackson Arnold mentioned he is poised to write down a a lot totally different story this season at Auburn.
The previous five-star recruit known as final 12 months’s struggles with the Sooners “a part of the journey” and mentioned he has no regrets about his time in Norman, however his recent begin at Auburn has him feeling way more assured concerning the future.
“I knew the scenario I used to be strolling into was going to make it superb for me,” mentioned Arnold, ESPN’s No. 3 general recruit within the 2023 class who was 5-5 as a beginning quarterback in two seasons at Oklahoma. “It was virtually simple this spring throwing to these guys. For me, all I’ve received to do is be a degree guard and simply distribute the ball.”
Auburn coach Hugh Freeze echoed the match, however he mentioned touchdown Arnold within the switch portal wasn’t instantly a straightforward selection.
“I believed he was one of the best participant popping out [of high school], however so did all people else,” Freeze mentioned. “So it’s a must to ask, what occurred?”
Freeze did a deep dive on Arnold’s 2024 marketing campaign, which included 12 TD passes, 3 interceptions and three video games on the bench.
Freeze concluded that Arnold was protected by a shaky offensive line, had 5 receivers out with accidents and was on his third offensive coordinator.
It wasn’t that Arnold was good except for his supporting forged, Freeze mentioned, however he watched each throw the previous high prospect made final season and noticed sufficient flashes of the elite arm, fast hips and environment friendly supply to be satisfied that this man nonetheless had a excessive ceiling.
“You mix all that with what I knew from highschool and that he matches my ball-in-the-belly system and his mechanics and flipping his hips and getting the ball out quick,” Freeze mentioned. “Jackson’s actually good at that.”
Arnold did not wish to level fingers for any of his struggles at Oklahoma, however what was clear by 12 months’s finish in 2024 is he was prepared for a recent begin.
After a 25-15 loss to Tennessee in September, Arnold was benched in favor of freshman Michael Hawkins, solely to regain the beginning job a month later. That, in accordance with Arnold, was a turning level.
“It was powerful, but it surely was a pivotal level in my life the place you flip a swap and one thing wakes up inside you that makes you push and work just a little more durable,” Arnold mentioned. “It was a mix of a bunch of issues. The whole lot that might go unsuitable went unsuitable final 12 months. It is simply a part of the journey and one thing that needed to occur to get me on this observe now.
“I am not going accountable something on my play final 12 months, however I really feel like now I am in a scenario the place I can exit and thrive.”
Arnold mentioned he was bought on Auburn virtually immediately, believing he was a really perfect match for Freeze’s system, and he sees a state of affairs the place his profession arc matches up completely with a Tigers program that has endured its share of frustrations.
“I really feel like we’ll show all people unsuitable and present what I am about and what the Auburn Tigers are about,” Arnold mentioned. “I’ve by no means put decrease expectations on myself due to one unhealthy season. I am nonetheless extraordinarily assured in myself. I believe we are able to win each sport on our schedule. We have now the expertise to do this. We simply should put our cash the place our mouth is and go on the market and execute.
“I’ve received a lot extra to show and you place us collectively and put that chip on our shoulder, it is a fantastic match and it may be a fantastic story.”
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