Auburn Takes a Risk with Former Stanford QB Ashton Daniels—Is It the Right Move?

Auburn football continues to make moves in the transfer portal, and Monday’s commitment is sure to raise some eyebrows. Former Stanford quarterback Ashton Daniels has announced that he will be transferring to the Tigers, becoming the second quarterback Auburn has added in this transfer cycle, joining Oklahoma’s Jackson Arnold.

Daniels, who spent three seasons with the Stanford Cardinal, is bringing with him a mixture of experience and dual-threat capability. After taking over as a starter for the past two seasons, Daniels threw for 3,986 yards, 21 touchdowns, and 20 interceptions in his career at Stanford. His 2024 season was a roller coaster, as he put up 1,700 yards, 10 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions while completing 62.7% of his passes. But what truly sets Daniels apart is his ability to contribute in multiple facets of the game. The dual-threat quarterback also ran for 669 yards and three touchdowns in 2024, showcasing his athleticism and versatility.

Auburn’s quarterback room has been a topic of much conversation since the departures of Payton Thorne, Hank Brown, and Holden Geriner, with rumors swirling around a potential transfer of Walker White. With these significant departures, Auburn was left with an almost empty quarterback room, putting Hugh Freeze and his staff in a scramble to find suitable replacements. Daniels’ commitment provides a much-needed boost to that room, but Auburn is not done yet. The Tigers may still look to add another quarterback in the transfer portal to meet Freeze’s goal of having four scholarship quarterbacks on the roster for 2024.

Ashton Daniels will join Jackson Arnold, the five-star transfer from Oklahoma, who is widely regarded as one of the top quarterbacks to enter the transfer portal this cycle. Together, they will compete for the starting job, but Daniels’ experience and dual-threat ability give him a unique skill set to help the Tigers in multiple ways. Additionally, 2025 signee Deuce Knight will be entering the fold next year, potentially giving Auburn a bright future at quarterback.

For Daniels, this move to Auburn represents a fresh start and a chance to step into a high-profile program that is undergoing a major transformation under Hugh Freeze. Auburn fans are excited to see how Daniels will fit into the Tigers’ offensive scheme, and with the quarterback room now beginning to fill out, the future at the position looks far more promising than it did just weeks ago.

While there is still plenty of uncertainty surrounding Auburn’s quarterback situation, Daniels’ addition gives the Tigers the stability and competition they desperately need as they prepare for 2024. If he can build on his past success at Stanford and continue to develop in the SEC, Daniels has the potential to become a key piece of Auburn’s offense.

Stay tuned as Auburn continues to navigate the transfer portal, and as Daniels settles into his new role in the Tigers’ quarterback competition.