Auburn lands Michigan State beginning QB Thorne

• Tom VanHaaren, ESPN Staff WriterMay 5, 2023, 02:05 PM ET Close ESPN personnel author Joined ESPN in 2011

• Finished from Central Michigan

Former Michigan State quarterback Payton Thorne is moving to Auburn, he revealed Friday.Thorne is a redshirt elder who got in the transfer portal on April 30, the last day of the spring transfer window. He had started at Michigan State the previous two seasons and now offers brand-new Auburn coach Hugh Freeze more depth at the position.Thorne was in a quarterback battle with backup Noah Kim this offseason at Michigan State, however one source around the program stated it was a surprise that Thorne got in the transfer website. He tossed for 6,494 yards and 49 goals in his time with the Spartans and was quite in the race to win the beginning task for the 2023 season.Editor’s Picks For Michigan State, Thorne’s departure leaves the staff with Kim and Katin Houser as options to start.Freeze and Auburn have Robby Ashford

at quarterback, who transferred in from Oregon prior to the 2022 season. He played in 12 games last season, throwing for 1,613 yards, seven touchdowns and 7 interceptions.Holden Geriner, a redshirt freshman, is likewise on the roster and was the No. 190 possibility overall in the 2022 class. Thorne includes more competitors and experience to the quarterback space and provides Freeze another alternative at quarterback to choose from.