Georgia analyst calls current Auburn QB room ‘bit of a predicament’
Dawgs Daily’s Jonathan Williams believes that even after Auburn football landed Michigan State transfer portal quarterback Payton Thorne, the Tigers still find themselves in a “bit of a predicament” under center ahead of the 2023 season.
“The Auburn Tigers also find themselves in a bit of a predicament at quarterback,” Williams prefaced before saying, “The Tigers brought in former Michigan State quarterback Payton Thorne from the portal and then saw their own quarterback, TJ Finley, hit the portal to seek a new school. Now the Tigers’ position battle appears to be between Thorne and Robert Ashford, who appeared in 12 games last season as a Freshman and served as the starter for a while as well.”
Finley was long expected to reach the portal upon graduating in the spring, though instead of landing in Columbus with Ohio State as his social media activity seemed to think was possible, the Ponchatoula, Louisiana native ended up in the Sun Belt with Texas State — and he could end up being a third-string QB at the Group of Five level according to CBS Sports’ Shehan Jeyarajah.
Ashford comes into a second season having dramatically improved after Bryan Harsin was fired and Carnell “Cadillac” Williams took over. Ashford had one of his worst performances against Georgia in 2022, completing just 13 of his 38 passes for 165 passing yards and an interception, but Williams overlooked the massive strides No. 9 made as the season progressed.
Payton Thorne is why there is no predicament in the Auburn football QB room
Where Williams particularly misses the mark is in writing off the Thorne commitment as one that doesn’t solve many of the problems Auburn football had at quarterback during the 2022 season. Thorne most certainly took a step back in 2022 (2,679 passing yards, 19 touchdowns) after a stellar 2021 campaign (3,232 passing yards, 27 touchdowns), but Michigan State did also lose talent in the offensive trenches. Kenneth Walker’s departure also left Thorne with plenty more responsibilities and fewer openings created through the run game.
Hugh Freeze built a sturdy veteran offensive line ahead of Thorne and inherited a talented RB room he only made better with the addition of Brian Battie. Thorne is set up for success and brings far more big-game experience and arm talent than what the Tigers had in 2022.
If anything, with the weapons he has in tow, Thorne is the anti-predicament on the Plains under center.