The public announcement of Top247 quarterback Deuce Knight’s pledge to the Tigers, leaving Notre Dame, on Wednesday was fantastic news for Auburn. When Knight performed well at the Elite 11 tournament, Auburn decided to switch its quarterback focus from Julian Lewis to Knight, which sparked a new phase in the recruitment process in early July.
After making up his mind, Knight made five trips: he went to three home games, took part in Big Cat Weekend, and made a formal visit back to Oklahoma over the weekend. Auburn hopes to capitalize on this momentum for future recruiting success now that Knight has committed. With a class ranked No. 3 by 247Sports, the Tigers presently have 25 commitments, but maybe more.
Not only is Knight a talented player, but his addition is also essential to creating a pipeline of elite quarterback recruits. Hugh Freeze’s early Auburn career was always going to center around the quarterback position.
A month ago, everything seems uncertain. It seemed increasingly foolish for Freeze to pass up a transfer quarterback in the offseason, especially after Hank Brown and Payton Thorne, two players who were back, combined for eight interceptions in two defeats. Anxiety was heightened by Auburn’s primary target, Knight, taking longer to recruit. Knight was the best choice in the class, even if there were other possibilities. Unwilling to accept a backup option once more, Freeze had his sights set on the composite 5-star prospect as a pivotal player in an outstanding 2025 class. Auburn was primed for a significant quarterback acquisition.
On Wednesday night, Knight finally made the much-anticipated news. With barely two months until signing day in early December, the nation’s top quarterback recruit, who was committed to Notre Dame, switched to Auburn, putting the Tigers at the top of the recruiting class rankings and opening doors for other elite prospects.
For Freeze going into his third season at Auburn, Knight is more than simply a recruitment boost—he is the kind of gifted, high-potential quarterback that Auburn needs. His growth may have a big impact on Freeze’s career and establish him as a key player leading an offense that is surrounded by other top recruits.
Knight’s highlight clip demonstrates why elite programs are interested in him. With a height of 6 feet 4 inches and a left-handed throwing motion, he can produce explosive plays both on the ground and in the air. His athleticism is especially exceptional; last year, he set a record in the 40-yard dash with a speed of 4.53 and was the long jump champion for Mississippi two times. He also had an amazing 42-inch vertical jump. Based on these numbers, he would have been the quarterback of choice at the NFL Combine the previous year.
