Auburn Tigers Laughed at by Former Alabama QB for Jackson Arnold NIL Deal
Former Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron is speaking his mind about Jackson Arnold’s NIL deal with Auburn. McCarron thinks the Tigers overpaid for Arnold, who transferred from Oklahoma after being benched multiple times during the season ¹ ² ³.
Arnold’s deal is reportedly worth around $1.5 million to $3 million, which McCarron finds laughable. “Oh god, oh [expletive],” McCarron said when learning about the deal. “What did Hugh Freeze see watching Oklahoma tape?” ¹ ² ³. McCarron questions whether Arnold is worth the investment, citing his struggles as a quarterback at Oklahoma.
Despite his criticism, McCarron acknowledges that Arnold is a great athlete who’s underestimated in that regard. However, he emphasizes that a quarterback’s primary job is to throw the ball, which Arnold hasn’t consistently demonstrated ¹ ² ³.
Arnold’s stats at Oklahoma include 1,421 passing yards, 12 touchdowns, and three interceptions, along with 181 carries for 560 yards and four additional scores ¹. While these numbers aren’t terrible, they don’t necessarily justify the hefty NIL deal he received from Auburn, according to McCarron.
It’s worth noting that McCarron played in a different era, before NIL deals became a thing. He likely would have benefited financially from the current system, having been a key player on Alabama’s national championship teams ¹ ² ³.
The debate surrounding Arnold’s NIL deal raises questions about the fairness and sustainability of the current college football system. As the sport continues to evolve, it’ll be interesting to see how NIL deals impact team dynamics, player performance, and the overall competitiveness of the game.
