Auburn football transfer portal exodus begins with two players who never got fair shake under Freeze

Hank Brown and Holden Geriner entered the transfer portal within minutes of each other on December 1, less than 24 hours after Auburn football lost 28-14 to Alabama in Kalen DeBoer's Iron Bowl debut. The Tigers QB room is now slashed in half heading into next season, but luckily for Hugh Freeze, Deuce Knight hasn't de-committed. Not yet at least. That might just be the end of his time at AU if that happens.

Still, Brown and Geriner represent two players who never got a fair shake under Freeze. Brown got his start against Arkansas and had seven completions to three interceptions. Still, the game was in hand when he was yanked. Freeze never let Brown see his one SEC opportunity through the whole way.

Geriner didn't have the chops to evade incoming SEC pocket invaders. While he had arm talent, the QB position requires thinking on his feet. While there may have been thinking, his feet didn't move much. He never had a chance to become the starter once the head coach who recruited him, Bryan Harsin, was fired. But Freeze should've never framed it as though he did have a chance. Geriner's decision to stay gave him access to world-class facilities, so it's far from a total loss of two redshirt seasons. But more of the truth is never a bad thing. Or at least it shouldn't be.

The losses aren't earth-shattering given their lack of snaps, though both players have great potential with their arm strength wherever they land next. Of course, they could return at some point too. Entering the portal doesn't mean you're 100% a goner.

The point is, though, these losses represent a lack of progress at the position behind Thorne for two seasons. Some other teams may reap the rewards of the pair getting practice reps with a well-recruited SEC defense.

UPDATE: Brown denies that he's entered his name into the transfer portal.