Quarterback Deuce Knight to make first career start for Auburn football against Mercer

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This story has been updated to include quotes and new information.

AUBURN — Deuce Knight will make the first start of his college career when Auburn football hosts Mercer on Saturday, Nov. 22, (1 p.m. CT, SECN+) as interim head coach DJ Durkin announced Thursday, Nov. 20, the Tigers will turn to the five-star freshman at quarterback.

“I think he’s earned it, (he’s) doing a great job,” Durkin said of Knight. “We’re excited to see him go play.”

Earlier this week, Durkin announced Auburn would sit quarterback Ashton Daniels for the contest to preserve the senior’s redshirt. He also said both Knight and Jackson Arnold would see the field against the Bears, though the program had yet to determine who would get the start.

Durkin declined to comment Thursday when asked what the breakdown of reps will be between Arnold and Knight, but reaffirmed that both would see the field.

“They’re both going to play in the game, and they’re both going to play well,” Durkin said. “They’re both prepared. We’ve got a good plan for both of them.”

Knight was the highest-rated quarterback Auburn ever signed in the recruiting-site era based on 247Sports’ rankings, and its 15th highest-rated signee of all time.

A product of George County High School in Lucedale, Mississippi, Knight split his high school career between two seasons at George County and Lipscomb Academy in Nashville, Tennessee. He combined to throw for 6,043 yards, 53 touchdowns and 11 interceptions while completing 57.8% of his passes and averaging 9.7 yards per attempt. He also rushed for 1,432 yards and another 35 scores.

Deuce Knight’s Auburn football, high school stats

  • 2025 (1 game): 2-5 (40%) passing, 20 yards (4 YPA); 16 rush yards, 4 carries (4 YPC)
  • High School (2022-24): 362-626 (57.8%) passing, 6,043 pass yards (9.7 YPA), 53 passing touchdowns, 11 interceptions; 1,432 rush yards, 231 carries (6.2 YPC), 35 rushing touchdowns
    • 2024 (10 games): 100-165 (60.6%) passing, 2,067 pass yards (12.5 YPA), 25 passing touchdowns, 5 interceptions; 450 rush yards, 74 carries (6.1 YPC), 12 rushing touchdowns
    • 2023 (10 games): 141-265 (53.2%) passing, 2,047 pass yards (7.7 YPA), 17 passing touchdowns, 2 interceptions; 494 rush yards, 99 carries (4.9 YPC), 11 rushing touchdowns
    • 2022 (10 games): 121-196 (61.7%) passing, 1,929 pass yards, 11 passing touchdowns, 4 interceptions; 488 rush yards, 58 carries (8.4 YPC), 12 rushing touchdowns

Adam Cole is the Auburn athletics beat writer for the Montgomery Advertiser. He can be reached via email at acole@gannett.com or on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, @colereporter.To support Adam’s work, please subscribe to the Montgomery Advertiser.

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Deuce Knight will start at quarterback for Auburn football vs. Mercer

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