Auburn Faces Major Quarterback Shake-Up as Deuce Knight Enters Transfer Portal
Auburn’s quarterback room just got a whole lot quieter - and not in a good way. True freshman and former five-star recruit Deuce Knight has informed the program he plans to enter the NCAA transfer portal, dealing another blow to a Tigers team already navigating a turbulent offseason under center.
Knight’s decision marks the third quarterback departure from Auburn’s roster in a matter of weeks. He joins Jackson Arnold and Ashton Daniels in hitting the portal, leaving the Tigers with just one scholarship quarterback - incoming freshman Rhys Brush - heading into 2026.
For a program that values quarterback play as the engine of its offense, this is more than a roster shuffle. It's a full-blown reset.
Arnold and Daniels combined for 11 starts during the 2025 season, giving Auburn a foundation of experience at the position. Their exits alone would’ve raised eyebrows. Add Knight to the mix - a player once seen as the future of the program - and the situation becomes urgent.
Knight Flashed Star Potential in Limited Action
Though his time in orange and blue was brief, Knight showed exactly why he was such a coveted prospect coming out of high school. He appeared in just two games during the 2025 season, but made his presence felt, especially in his lone start - a 62-17 rout of Mercer that turned into a coming-out party.
In that game, Knight was electric. He completed 15 of 20 passes for 239 yards and two touchdowns, showing poise and precision in the pocket.
But it was his legs that truly separated him. Knight ran for 162 yards and four touchdowns on just nine carries, slicing through the defense with a mix of speed, vision, and pure athleticism.
It was the kind of dual-threat performance that gets fans dreaming and coaches planning entire playbooks around.
Despite the limited sample size, Knight’s numbers speak volumes. For the season, he completed 17 of 25 passes (68 percent) for 259 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions.
He averaged over 10 yards per attempt and preserved his redshirt by staying under the four-game threshold. That means he’ll have four full years of eligibility at his next stop - and you can bet plenty of programs will be lining up for his services.
A Pattern That’s Hard to Ignore
Knight’s departure continues a concerning trend for Auburn. This is now the second straight year a promising young quarterback has left the program, following Walker White’s transfer to Baylor after the 2024 season. For a team trying to build long-term stability at the game’s most important position, losing back-to-back blue-chip QBs before they even get a full season under their belts is a tough pill to swallow.
And the timing couldn’t be worse. With the transfer portal opening on January 2 and closing just two weeks later on January 16, Auburn has a narrow window to find answers. There’s no spring portal period this year, which means if the Tigers don’t land reinforcements now, they’ll head into spring ball with a single scholarship quarterback - a true freshman - leading the way.
Urgency Rising in Auburn’s Offseason
The quarterback spot is now Auburn’s top offseason priority, and it’s not particularly close. Whether through the portal or a late recruiting push, the Tigers need bodies - and fast. More importantly, they need someone who can step in and lead, because the depth chart has gone from crowded to critical in a matter of weeks.
The good news? The portal is full of talent, and Auburn has a compelling pitch: early playing time, SEC exposure, and a fanbase hungry for a return to relevance.
But make no mistake - this is a pivotal moment for the program. How Auburn responds over the next few weeks could shape the trajectory of the 2026 season and beyond.
Right now, the Tigers are staring at a quarterback room in rebuild mode. The question is whether they can turn this setback into an opportunity - or if the instability at the position will continue to define their future.