Auburn transfer has ‘leg up’ on incumbent starter in QB battle

Since taking over the Auburn football program late last year, head coach Hugh Freeze and his staff have done a lot of work on the recruiting trail and in the transfer portal to bolster the roster. Over 20 transfers have made their way to the Plains during the offseason, and many are expected to make instant impacts on the field.

The headliner of the transfer portal group is no doubt former Michigan State quarterback Payton Thorne. Throughout the first portal window, Auburn football fans were on the edges of their seats waiting to see if Freeze would pull in another QB, but it didn’t happen.

However, from the very beginning, Freeze made it clear that he was looking for someone else to add to the QB room—someone who had proven experience and would bring a new level of competition to the group. Once Thorne was in on Auburn, Freeze spoke highly of him, noting that he made the program better.

Thorne’s arrival on campus is no promise that he will be the Tigers’ QB1 in 2023, though. He’ll still have to battle with Holden Geriner, freshman Hank Brown, and incumbent starter Robby Ashford. Still, CBS Sports believes that Thorne will likely have the advantage because of Freeze’s desire to start over and make the team successful in his first year:

"First-year Tigers coach Hugh Freeze arrived on the Plains with one goal in mind: kickstart an underperforming offense. The passing game needed the most help, which is why Freeze lured Thorne away from Michigan State. Thorne threw for 6,493 yards and rushed for 270 yards in 29 games for the Spartans. He will have to battle with incumbent starter Robby Ashford during fall camp, but Thorne should have a leg up with Freeze looking to air it out in his return to the SEC."

Despite Ashford’s effort and his love for Auburn, it was clear during the spring A-Day game that he may not be up to standard when it comes to the criteria for the new offense. Freeze and the staff will be looking to actually compete with the likes of LSU, Alabama, and Georgia, and Thorne’s proven ability to win football games may earn him the starting spot in 2023.