Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze announced Thursday afternoon that Payton Thorne, who transferred to Auburn from Michigan State, will be the Tigers’ starting quarterback for Auburn’s week one matchup against UMass.
Thorne beat out 2022 starter Robby Ashford and redshirt freshman Holden Geriner after two weeks of competing in fall camp.
For a majority of fall practices, each quarterback was getting time with the first team offense — getting the same opportunities to showcase their abilities to coaches.
“I believe in all three of those guys, and there are days that there’s been very little separation,” Freeze said. “I just believe my gut is usually right,... and I’m not saying my gut is right that Payton is the guy for all 12 games, but my gut is saying it’s the time to do this to get us best prepared for the opening of the season.”
Freeze continued to say that while the competition was tight, there were a few things that gave Thorne the edge over Ashford and Geriner.
“The reason Payton is getting the nod is just the leadership ability and understanding of the offense,” Freeze said. “He’s been in some really good battles and just seemed like he was more efficient in the decision making to this point.”
Freeze noted that while the decision to pick Thorne and break the news to the other quarterbacks was “not easy,” he wants Ashford and Geriner to stay ready for the upcoming season.
Freeze revealed that while Ashford is not the starter, he could very likely still see the field throughout the season.
“He (Ashford) will always have a package,” Freeze said. “If he handles all of this the right way, he will always have a package because he adds an element to us that’s a little different.”
Freeze went on to praise Ashford for his athleticism. In 2022, Ashford accumulated 710 yards rushing with seven touchdowns on the ground and was voted the team's offensive player of the year.
“I believe with all my heart Robby Ashford gives us an absolute better chance to win the game if he accepts this news and continues to work and develops himself because he might be the most freakish athlete I’ve ever had at quarterback,” Freeze said.
As for Geriner, Freeze had good things to say about the redshirt freshman, but there were a couple things holding him back in the competition.
“Holden’s the most natural passer of all of them, truthfully,” Freeze said. “Still absorbing, there’s a lot of time he’s not made the right decision, maybe in the RPO game or in his reads… but he’s just a young kid. He’s got a bright future, there's no doubt in my mind.”
Barring injury in fall camp, Freeze doesn’t anticipate any movement among the quarterback order, noting that the competition is set going into the season opener.
“It’s set. It’s done. He’ll (Thorne) get all the reps with the ones, and Robby will get most of the reps with the twos,” Freeze said. “Holden will get his share some, but I feel like that’s where we are and that’s not going to change unless injuries or something happens.”
Thorne will take the field as Auburn’s starting quarterback on Sept. 2 against UMass to start the 2023 season. The game will kickoff at 2:30 p.m. CST and be televised on ESPN.
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Jacob Waters is a senior majoring in journalism. From Leeds, Alabama, he started with The Plainsman in August, 2021.
Twitter: @JacobWaters_
