Auburn football head coach Hugh Freeze seemingly favored one specific quarterback at the conclusion of the Tigers’ 2023 A-Day spring game — speaking at length to reporters about how Robby Ashford “got better” following the April 8 exhibition.
“You know, I think Robby got better,” Freeze said. “He’s really been fun to coach. And I think he’s trying to change some of the things that may have caused — at least me concern — being the quarterback and the leader, whether it be body language or ball security or your demeanor in general, the way you talk, the way you talk to your teammates. I don’t know if anybody has really challenged him like I did this spring with that. I think you saw today that he’s capable of making some plays. Thought he threw a really good seam ball in those conditions. Can’t remember if we threw it any more with him.”
When speaking of Holden Geriner and T.J. Finley, Freeze spoke of both the good and the bad in their games. “I thought Holden threw some good balls,” Freeze prefaced before saying, “He missed a couple of reads on some RPOs, I think. T.J. did, too. But it’s been that way all spring — some real positives and some inconsistencies the next day. We’ve still got time to help them improve, hopefully.”
T.J. Finley says he’ll need to talk to Auburn football HC Hugh Freeze if he adds transfer portal QB
Finley was non-committal regarding staying with Auburn football in the event Freeze brings on another transfer portal quarterback, expressing the need to have a conversation with the Tigers head coach in that scenario.
“I won’t know until they bring one in,” Finley said (h/t On3 Sports). “I’ll have to have a conversation with Coach Freeze. He said it multiple times. It’s up in the air whether he wants to or not, that’s his personal decision. I’m going to compete and if I’m not the best guy — if I’m not the best guy, I’m going to compete.”
Finley was removed as starting quarterback following Week 3 of the 2022 season by former head coach Bryan Harsin. It was shocking to see Finley stay with the program following the coaching change to Freeze, but it’s sounding like he’ll be on a different roster by the start of next season.