SEC Media Days: QB Jackson Arnold sees 'perfect fit' at Auburn

ATLANTA – Entering his third college football season, quarterback Jackson Arnold appreciates his opportunity at Auburn after two years at Oklahoma.

“I think this offseason was great for me mentally, just being in a new place, getting a fresh start, being around new people, new coaches, new players, new scenery, too,” Arnold said. “Auburn's beautiful. It's great scenery. I think for me mentally I need to be in a new spot, to be around some other people in order to thrive. I feel like God put me in a great position that I'm in right now. I'm super excited for the season.”

When Arnold entered the transfer portal after last season, Auburn was the first program to reach out, he said. 

“I think with the depth that we have and the coaches we have, the offensive scheme that fits me so well,” he said. “I thought it was a perfect fit for me.”

At SEC Media Days Tuesday at the College Football Hall of Fame, Arnold said Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze’s pitch on run-pass options and vertical passes aligned with Jackson’s experience. 

“That's something that I've been doing a lot since high school, and even my first couple years of college,” Arnold said. “Coach Freeze isn't scared to push the ball down the field, which I absolutely love. I thought with my experience running the RPO game, I think it meshed well with what Coach Freeze was wanting to do with his offense.”

Arnold quickly earned the respect of his new teammates, who voted him to represent them on Auburn’s leadership council.

“I think it's really experience,” Arnold said. “I've played a full year of SEC ball. I think the guys on the team respect that. I really wanted to establish myself early on and made sure in the spring everyone knew that I was going to take control of this team and lead them. It gives me a lot of hope and confidence that these dudes really believe in me and really want me to lead them this year.”

With a seasoned offensive line, skilled receiving corps and promising options at running back, Arnold likes the potential of Auburn’s offense. 

“My confidence is extremely high right now,” he said. “I credit that to my whole teammates, having their respect and their trust. The offense had a really efficient spring, which instilled a lot of confidence in me.”

Since arriving on the Plains in January, Arnold and the Tigers receivers have arranged throwing sessions at the Woltosz Center.

“Those dudes absolutely love the work,” Arnold said. “I love that because that shows they care about it and they want to go out there and be great and put a great product on the field. It's a bunch of studs out there. I'm super excited by this group, and I think they're going to produce a lot on the field this year.”

Arnold started nine games for the Sooners as a sophomore last season, completing 62.3 percent of his passes for 1,421 yards, 12 touchdowns and three interceptions. 

“I think perseverance was a big thing I learned last year, fighting through the tough times,” said Arnold, who added 444 rushing yards and three touchdowns last season. “Now I fully understand what it's like playing a long SEC schedule against some good teams, playing in those tough games where it's extremely close and you have to grind it out.”

The 2022 national high school player of the year in Denton, Texas, Arnold returns to the Lone Star State for his Auburn debut in the season opener Aug. 29 at Baylor.

“Baylor is a very good team,” Arnold said. “It's going to be a great test for us. I'm excited about playing in Texas on a Friday night just like high school.”

Three weeks later on Sept. 20, another homecoming awaits when Arnold and the Tigers visit Oklahoma.

“It’ll be a challenge,” Arnold said. “It’s going to be a tough one. Coach Venables is a fantastic defensive coach and a great defensive mind. He’ll throw some stuff my way which I probably won’t be expecting but we’ll just roll with the punches and go from there.”

A reporter at Media Days, perhaps fishing for a controversial quote, came up empty when asking Arnold to compare his new team with his previous one. 

“It’s two great programs,” he said. “I’m super appreciative of the time I had at OU. I’m super excited for my time at Auburn.”

Before moving to Texas, Arnold lived in Georgia, where his childhood best friend was a committed Auburn fan, giving the Tigers’ future quarterback an early education about the team he would one day lead. 

“I understand the tradition of Auburn, the weight the name holds,” he said. “I’m excited to uphold that standard.”

Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on X: @jeff_shearer