247Sports’ Chris Hummer had a harrowing message about the incumbent starting quarterback for Auburn football, Robby Ashford: Tigers head coach Hugh Freeze may need more than what Ashford brings to the table in order to satisfy what could be an impatient Auburn football fanbase during the 2023 season, Freeze’s first on the Plains.
“(The Tigers) need a quarterback, and they’re looking to upgrade the position,” Hummer wrote. “Robby Ashford is still there. If you’re Hugh Freeze and you’re in year one, and you’re at a program that is not patient, you’d like more certainty than what Robbie Ashford potentially brings you. Robbie Ashford might be a pretty decent fit for what Hugh Freeze has done before. Auburn could certainly use a quarterback; where that comes from will be interesting.”
Hummer deemed Auburn football a “team to watch” during the April transfer portal cycle, pointing out the program’s need for upgrades “at almost every position.”
“With the way the rules are set up, you can’t take another SEC transfer,” Hummer prefaced before saying, “You got to get a little more creative with that. Auburn also needs another offensive lineman. They’re trying to be pretty aggressive there. That’s a team to watch. Auburn will be willing to upgrade at almost every position. They are in desperate need of edge rushers as well. You will see Auburn be one of the most aggressive Power 5 teams in the second transfer portal window.”
Auburn football head coach Hugh Freeze on what he’s looking for in a QB1
Freeze described for reporters following A-Day what he’s looking for in a transfer portal quarterback — and while he didn’t write off the Tigers’ current QBs being able to do so, he did call the room “unproven” in hinting that the transfer portal may be his best bet.
“I think you’ve got to have somebody that can make the throws in tight coverage,” Freeze said. “And you’ve got to have receivers that can get open, too. We’re looking for some of that consistency in both spots. They’re going to be some games you just can’t (pass). They’re going to stop the run. and you’re going to have to make some throws to win the game. We’re not proven in the room that we have that any of those who have done that. I’m not saying they can’t, and I’m certainly not down on them. I think we can win games with these guys. But should a guy come available that is a dynamic guy that we think is already a proven commodity doing that, I think we would have to at least look at that.”