3 Auburn football players who should be replaced on the depth chart for 2024

FanSided college football writer Josh Yourish thinks that Tigers should find upgrades at these three positions ahead of the 2024 season.
Auburn Tigers quarterback Payton Thorne (1)
Auburn Tigers quarterback Payton Thorne (1) / Steve Roberts-USA TODAY Sports
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It may also be time to reevaluate the quarterback position. Thorne won out over Robby Ashford who has since transferred to South Carolina, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that Thorne should be the long-term answer at the position for 2024, his final year of eligibility.

The offensive line was shaky last season and while Thorne kept the raw pressure and sack numbers low with his quick time to throw and propensity to scramble, he still had a pressure-to-sack ratio of 35.6% the highest in the country. 

Throne took 31 sacks and lost 166 yards, which resulted in an expected points added (EPA) of -14.1 from sacks. His total EPA landed at 28.5 for the season, 12th in the SEC. He still only completed 61.1% of his passes, in his third season as a starting quarterback (the first two came at Michigan State) and he finished with 10 interceptions to just 16 passing touchdowns. 

He was inaccurate with the deep ball and when pressured, he only managed to complete 48.7% of his passes for an average of 5.8 yards per attempt with two touchdowns and four picks. It was an underwhelming season across the board and if there isn’t a noticeable improvement early in 2024, then Freeze should pair his freshmen receivers with his four-star freshman quarterback Walker White.

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