Transfer Thorne named Auburn’s starting QB

• Chris Low, ESPN

  • Senior Citizen WriterAug 17, 2023, 02:09 PM ET Close College football press reporter
  • Signed up with ESPN.com in 2007
  • Graduate of the University of Tennessee

Payton Thorne has won the Auburn beginning quarterback task, coach Hugh Freeze revealed on Thursday.Thorne, a transfer from Michigan State, vanquished Robby Ashford and will start for the Tigers in their Sept. 2 opener against UMass.Thorne was a two-year starter for the Spartans

, and Freeze stated that his management and efficiency throwing the ball were huge factors in his winning the job at Auburn after arriving on school in June.”The reason Payton is getting the nod is the leadership ability and understanding of the offense, and he’s remained in some truly great battles and simply looks like he was more efficient in decision-making to this point, not that the others were awful by any methods,” Freeze said.”It was not a slam dunk. I hope everyone will handle it right. “Editor’s Picks From the time Thorne showed up on campus, Freeze said he’s immersed himself into every element of the offense

.”The person’s in here all the time. I can’t get rid of him,”Freeze stated.”He would like to know all the ins and outs about everything … and he’s a pro at it, understanding how to prepare, which offers you a convenience level where you seem like he has the best mindset and understanding of the strategy.”Freeze stated that Thorne would get all the repeatings with the starting system heading into the opener which Ashford would get the majority of the work with the 2nd unit. He stated that redshirt freshman Holden Geriner would likewise get some reps with the junior varsity.”Holden is the most natural passer out of all of them, truthfully, “Freeze said.Freeze stated that Ashford will”constantly have a bundle [in the offense]

if he manages this the right way” and added that Ashford”may be the most freakish athlete I have actually ever had at quarterback.” Ashford, who transferred from Oregon after the 2021 season, was Auburn’s starter for most of last season and played in all 12 games. He is a dynamic runner who completed with 710 backyards and seven touchdowns hurrying however passed for simply seven goals and tossed 7 interceptions. He will continue to complete for playing time and might regain the beginning task at some point.Auburn finished 119th nationally in passing offense last season (172.7 YPG), and enhancing the death game was a priority for Freeze in his first season as the Tigers’ coach.Thorne, entering his fifth season of college football, had his best season with Michigan State in 2021 when he passed for 3,240 backyards and 27 touchdowns while assisting lead the Spartans to 11 wins in Mel Tucker’s very first year as coach. Thorne entered his name into the transfer website following spring practice previously this year. He had been contending for the Michigan State beginning task with sophomore Noah Kim.Auburn has actually shuffled through quarterbacks the previous couple of years. Bo Nix, now a Heisman Trophy prospect at Oregon, was Auburn’s starter from 2019 to 2021, but he was quickly benched in 2021 and then returned as the starter prior to having his season cut short by an ankle injury and then leaving to sign up with the Ducks. TJ Finley, who started his career at LSU, was Auburn’s starter to open the 2022 season before giving way to Ashford. Finley has since transferred to Texas State.