Auburn football's returning quarterback Payton Thorne explains why he is more confident heading into the 2024 season
When the offseason rolled around following the 2023 season on the Plains, many Auburn football fans were clamoring for a transfer quarterback. Payton Thorne had arrived the previous summer from Michigan State and struggled all season, giving a particularly poor performance in the Tigers' bowl game.
But things are looking different heading into the 2024 season. Head coach Hugh Freeze identified plenty of things that didn't work on his first-year squad and set out to fix the problems during the offseason. A new offensive coordinator means there will be a game plan that Freeze understands and is somewhat involved in, and playcalling will be a collaborative job with several offensive coaches.
The Tigers also upgraded their roster, stacking the wide receiver room with talented weapons who can create separation and win battles on the field. Freeze has mentioned plenty of times that he has high confidence in the offensive line, which is returning several key players from last year.
With a full offseason under his belt, there's no doubt that Thorne is heading into the 2024 season with more confidence, and he explained the reasoning at SEC Media Days.
“A huge difference,” Thorne said, per Auburn Athletics. “Last year getting here in the middle of summer, obviously that's not ideal going into a new offense, a new team, a new atmosphere. Now we have a set plan. You're familiar with everything. There's going to be more confidence that comes with that. I think that good things are coming because of that.
“My confidence comes from the preparation that we've put in. I think it's been a really good offseason. I'm excited for what we have to come. We've got some new weapons.”
Payton Thorne and the Tigers will return to action on August 31 when they host Alabama A&M in Jordan-Hare Stadium.