Former Alabama QB Greg McElroy Rains on Auburn’s Parade
Former Oklahoma quarterback Jackson Arnold is hoping for a much-needed fresh start under Auburn Tigers head coach Hugh Freeze. After a challenging stint with the Sooners, Arnold arrives at Auburn with the opportunity to revive his career and, in the process, help secure Freeze’s future as the Tigers’ head coach. However, not everyone is convinced that this transition will be smooth.
One of the skeptics is former Alabama quarterback and current ESPN analyst Greg McElroy, who has taken a critical stance on Arnold’s potential impact at Auburn. During his show, McElroy expressed doubts about Arnold’s ability to turn things around quickly, comparing his struggles to similar situations in the NFL.
McElroy: “He Is Damaged Right Now”
McElroy didn’t hold back when discussing Arnold’s state of mind and performance.
“I think he is damaged right now,” McElroy stated. “No one can deny that. He was absolutely a damaged player last year, and it is going to take a little while to get things rolling.”
He went on to compare Arnold’s situation to quarterbacks in the NFL who have struggled and failed to recover.
“We have seen this before. We have seen this in the NFL. It happens, and it isn’t the first time it will happen, and it won’t be the last,” McElroy continued. “Can you avoid the critical mistake that puts you on the bench to begin with? I don’t know the answer to that, and that’s what we are going to find out with Jackson Arnold.”
A Risky Bet for Hugh Freeze and Auburn
Bringing Arnold to Auburn was always going to be a high-risk, high-reward move for Freeze. To hedge their bets, the Tigers also brought in quarterbacks Tanner Bailey and Ashton Daniels from the transfer portal. However, it’s clear that Arnold is considered the frontrunner for the starting job, making it his position to lose.
Still, Auburn fans should be cautious in assuming Arnold’s struggles were solely due to Oklahoma’s system. While the dysfunction within the Sooners’ program certainly played a role in his disappointing tenure, there’s no guarantee that a fresh start alone will be enough to restore him to his highly rated high school form.
Can Freeze Rebuild Arnold’s Confidence
One of the biggest concerns surrounding Arnold’s development is whether Freeze has the patience and coaching ability to help him regain confidence. Last season, Freeze’s handling of former Auburn quarterback Payton Thorne raised doubts about his ability to mentor struggling QBs. Thorne’s inconsistency, coupled with Auburn’s erratic play-calling system, made it difficult to determine if the issues stemmed from the quarterback himself or the coaching staff’s failure to establish stability.
Given Freeze’s back-to-back seven-loss seasons, patience may not be a luxury he can afford in year three. He needs to show significant improvement, and Arnold’s success—or failure—could determine the trajectory of his tenure at Auburn.
The Pressure is On
McElroy’s “damaged goods” narrative surrounding Arnold doesn’t do Auburn any favors, but it does highlight the urgency of the situation. Freeze must find a way to shield his new quarterback from outside criticism while simultaneously implementing a system that plays to Arnold’s strengths.
Arnold has the raw talent—he was a highly rated recruit for a reason. But restoring his confidence and getting him to perform at a high level again won’t happen overnight. The spring and summer will be crucial for his development, but the real test begins when Auburn takes the field in the fall.
Freeze must prove that he can craft a scheme that maximizes Arnold’s abilities while addressing the offensive inconsistencies that have plagued the Tigers in recent years. If he fails, the doubts surrounding both Arnold and Freeze will only grow louder.
Auburn may have had a productive offseason, but once the games begin, all eyes will be on whether Freeze and Arnold can silence the critics—or if McElroy’s skepticism was justified.
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