Auburn has added a new face to its quarterback competition through the transfer portal. On Friday, former Michigan State quarterback Payton Thorne announced his commitment to the Auburn Tigers.
Thorne made his commitment to Hugh Freeze and the Auburn coaching staff on social media.
Thorne was a 3-star recruit out of high school in the 2019 class and was listed as the No. 1,080 overall recruit according to the 247Sports composite and has two years of eligibility remaining.
The 6-foot-2, 210-pound veteran started his career at Michigan State and served as a backup quarterback his first two seasons in East Lansing, Michigan. Thorne took over for Michigan State his redshirt sophomore year and had a record-breaking season.
Thorne led the Spartans to an 11-2 season, including a win in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl and a win over rivals Michigan and Penn State. Thorne also set the Michigan State single-season record for passing touchdowns (27) and finished the season with 3,232 yards passing and 10 interceptions.
Thorne eclipsed 300 yards passing three times in his first season starting as a Spartan, including 354 yards and three touchdowns in Michigan State’s win over Pittsburgh in the Peach Bowl. Auburn quarterbacks have only recorded two 300-yard passing performances over the past two seasons.
Thorne’s second season as a starter was not as bright as his first as the new Auburn quarterback only tossed for 2,679 yards while recording 19 touchdowns to 11 interceptions as the Spartans failed to make a bowl game, going 5-7. Thorne’s best game as a redshirt junior came on the road against Washington where he threw for 323 yards and three touchdowns.
Thorne comes to the Plains and enters a quarterback room in the middle of a stiff competition. Thorne will battle with Robby Ashford, who spent a majority of the 2022 season as the starter, and redshirt freshman Holden Geriner for the starting job. Former Auburn QB T.J. Finley announced his intention to enter the transfer portal May 2.
Auburn opens the 2023 season and the Freeze era on Sept. 2 at home against the UMass Minutemen.
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Jacob Waters is a junior majoring in journalism. From Leeds, Alabama, he started with The Plainsman in fall 2021.
Twitter: @JacobWaters_
