After diving into Ashton Daniels’ game against NC State, I came away with two clear conclusions. One, Stanford’s offensive line did not do him any favors. Two, despite the chaos up front, Daniels showed the kind of toughness, athleticism, and field awareness that makes it almost inevitable: he’s going to line up in the Wildcat for Auburn this fall.
On this first cut up, it’s clear that Daniels’ mobility will be a weapon. Auburn offensive coordinator Derrick Nix and head coach Hugh Freeze are surely watching this tape and imagining all the ways they can leverage Daniels’ legs. On a read-option look early in the game, Daniels makes a clean read on the edge defender, widens him out, and makes a smart cut up field. It’s not just athleticism; it’s decision-making. Ball security is solid, and he fights forward for extra yardage.
But while Daniels shines with the ball in his hands, the tape also exposes some serious issues with Stanford’s offensive execution. Blocking assignments were confusing, to say the least. On one play, a potential big gain was squandered when the backside linebacker wasn’t accounted for, at all. It could have been a footrace with the safety had the assignment been properly executed. Instead, Daniels was forced to shake a free defender to salvage the play.
This wasn’t an isolated breakdown either. Several times, Stanford linemen and tight ends seemed confused about their responsibilities. On another snap, the center recognizes the linebacker but never climbs to block him, giving Daniels nowhere to go. These breakdowns consistently put him in pressure-filled situations, and yet he still managed to generate positive plays.
Yet it’s in adversity that Daniels’ most important trait emerges: his ability to create. On 3rd-and-21, down two scores, Daniels audibles into a quarterback run and turns a dead drive into a momentum swing. The play design features a crackback block and pulling guard—though once again, too many blockers end up targeting the same defender. Doesn’t matter. Daniels manipulates the defense with a subtle hesitation, dips inside to bait the defender, then bursts outside to daylight. Touchdown.
That run isn’t just impressive because of the yardage or the score—it’s impressive because of how Daniels set it up. The vision. The patience. The timing. It’s one thing to have the tools; it’s another to understand how and when to use them. Daniels looks like a player who gets it.
And that brings us to Auburn. If you’re not yet sold on Daniels having a role in the Tigers’ offense, especially in short-yardage or red-zone situations, go ahead and brace yourself. Freeze loves versatility. Nix loves tempo. And when you’ve got a quarterback who can read leverage, manipulate defenders, and create big plays with his legs—especially when protection breaks down—you find a way to use him.
Expect Daniels to be deployed situationally, especially in Auburn’s Wildcat package. He’s too dangerous not to be. Whether it’s third-and-short or red zone, Daniels can thrive. The fact that he played under duress at Stanford only sharpens the toolset. If anything, it’s made him more comfortable operating in chaos—a trait Auburn may need come SEC play.
The takeaway from this NC State film is not just about Daniels’ highlights. It’s about how often he had to manufacture those highlights under pressure, behind an offensive line that too often left him exposed. That’s the kind of trial-by-fire experience that translates in the SEC. Auburn may not need him to be their every-down QB, but when the moment comes for a spark, Ashton Daniels is going to be ready—and so should Auburn fans.
You heard it here first: get your mind right for Ashton Daniels in the Wildcat.
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