Auburn’s Quarterback Conundrum: Can Alex Golesh Spark a Turnaround Behind Center?
If you’re looking for the root of Auburn’s recent struggles, you don’t have to dig too deep - it starts and ends with quarterback play. Since Bo Nix packed his bags after the 2021 season, the Tigers have been spinning their wheels trying to find stability under center. And in the SEC, where elite quarterback play often separates contenders from the rest, that’s a problem that’s only grown louder with each passing season.
Hugh Freeze’s tenure never quite found its footing, and a big part of that was the revolving door at quarterback. In 2025, that instability hit a peak - three different quarterbacks started at least one game, and the team’s leading passer, Jackson Arnold, finished with just 1,309 yards on the year. That’s not going to cut it in a league where 300-yard passing days are becoming the norm.
Now, enter Alex Golesh.
The former USF head coach has a reputation for developing quarterbacks and building high-powered offenses. Auburn’s betting on him to bring that formula to the Plains, and the first big question he faces is what this quarterback room is going to look like in Year 1.
Arnold on the Move, Questions Remain
As of Thursday morning, Arnold is the only Auburn quarterback expected to hit the transfer portal. That leaves Ashton Daniels, Deuce Knight, and incoming freshman Rhys Brush still in the mix - for now. But with the portal officially opening on Jan. 2, that room could look very different in a few weeks.
Daniels hasn’t made any formal announcements, but he did speak briefly about his future after the Iron Bowl, saying he wanted to return in 2026 “absolutely, 100%.” That was before Golesh was hired, though, and coaching changes often shift the quarterback pecking order.
Daniels closed out the season with a strong stretch, starting three of Auburn’s final four games. He threw for over 350 yards against Vanderbilt - the first time an Auburn QB had done that since Nix in 2021.
In total, Daniels posted 797 passing yards and three touchdowns through the air, while adding 280 yards and two scores on the ground. He showed flashes, no doubt.
But with only one year of eligibility left, Daniels needs a clear path to the starting job - something that’s far from guaranteed.
The Byrum Brown Factor
Golesh isn’t coming to Auburn alone - he’s expected to bring much of his offensive staff with him. That naturally raises the question: could USF quarterback Byrum Brown follow?
Brown was electric in 2025. He threw for 3,158 yards and 28 touchdowns, and rushed for another 1,008 yards and 14 scores.
That’s a dual-threat weapon who doesn’t just move the chains - he ignites offenses. With Brown at the helm, USF finished the regular season second in the nation in total yards per game.
Auburn, by comparison, hasn’t cracked the top 25 in that category in a decade.
Brown hasn’t made his next move public yet, but he did opt out of USF’s bowl game on Wednesday. That could mean he’s eyeing the NFL Draft - or it could be a sign he’s considering reuniting with Golesh at Auburn. If that happens, it would instantly shake up the Tigers’ quarterback landscape.
There’s precedent for this kind of move. Just look at John Mateer, who followed his OC Ben Arbuckle from Washington State to Oklahoma, or Diego Pavia, who transferred with his coaching staff from New Mexico State to Vanderbilt and became a star. If Brown takes the same route, it could have major ripple effects in Auburn’s quarterback room.
What About Deuce Knight?
Of all the names in the room, Deuce Knight might be the most intriguing. He’s still raw - only two games under his belt - but the upside is undeniable. He got the start in Auburn’s win over Mercer while Daniels sat out to preserve his redshirt, and Knight made the most of it.
He threw for 239 yards and two touchdowns, and added 162 yards and four touchdowns on the ground - on just nine carries. That’s not just a solid debut - that’s the kind of performance that gets fanbases buzzing and coaching staffs dreaming.
Knight has four years of eligibility left, and that’s going to make him a hot commodity if he decides to explore the portal. If Brown were to transfer in and take the reins, Knight might start to hear from programs willing to offer a clearer path to playing time. That’s a decision he’ll have to weigh carefully over the next month.
Golesh is clearly high on Knight. During a recent interview on The Next Round, he reflected on seeing Knight in camp as a freshman and came away impressed: “Man, this young man is going to be incredibly special,” he said. That’s not just coach-speak - that’s a coach who sees long-term potential.
A Room in Flux
The reality is, Auburn’s quarterback situation is still very much in flux. The transfer portal opens Jan. 2 and runs through Jan. 16, and between now and then, we’re likely to see some movement - both in and out.
Golesh has a chance to reshape this room in a big way. Whether that means bringing in a proven playmaker like Brown, developing a high-upside talent like Knight, or giving Daniels one last shot to lead the Tigers, the decisions made over the next few weeks will chart Auburn’s course not just for 2026, but for the future of the program.
After years of instability behind center, Auburn finally has a chance to hit the reset button with a coach who knows how to build quarterbacks. Now, it’s all about making the right moves - and making them fast.