Auburn’s Freeze bullish on possible 2-QB system

Pete Thamel, ESPNJul 18, 2023, 05:51 PM ET NASHVILLE– When Hugh Freeze took over at Ole Miss in 2012, the Rebels had actually lost 15 straight SEC games. They made a bowl in his first season and began an upward trajectory that included a look in the Peach Bowl in his 3rd season.As he takes

over at Auburn more than a decade later, Freeze faces both obscurity at the quarterback position and uncertainty that he’ll be able to elevate the Auburn program on a similarly quick timeline.Freeze told ESPN on Tuesday that Auburn might end up playing 2 quarterbacks sometimes this season, as incumbent Robby Ashford and Michigan State transfer Payton Thorne are expected to battle for the starting position.” Do I think it’s possible to play two and win?” Freeze said.”I do, in fact, if they handle it the proper way. Somebody is going to have to be the starter. And someone is going to be the man you depend on in the 4th quarter.”Editor’s Picks Ashford started 9 times for the Tigers last season after transferring from Oregon, going 3-6 over those games. Thorne hasn’t practiced yet for Auburn after leaving Michigan State, but he is a shown commodity with 26 profession starts and a 16-10 record.Ashford, a vibrant athlete who played baseball while at Oregon, profiles more as a dual-threat quarterback. Thorne is more of a pure drop-back passer who doesn’t provide a considerable hazard in the run game. “Robby Ashford can help us win games,”Freeze said. “He is the most freakish professional athlete I have ever had at quarterback. Can he be the quarterback? I

do not know yet. However can we utilize him to help us win games? There’s no doubt in my mind if he handles the competitors.” Freeze acknowledged that the quarterback position will be the secret to a turn-around. Auburn is coming off back-to-back losing seasons, with head coach Bryan Harsin being fired in October in 2015 after starting 3-5. Freeze stated it ‘d be easy to assume he might juice up a program with a nationwide title pedigree like Auburn as fast as he did at Ole Miss, however stated things have altered given that he showed up in Oxford more than a years ago.”My preliminary response would be,’Well, dang, surely it’s simpler to flip Auburn,’ “he stated.” But I think the league’s improved than it was then. Therefore I’m fearful to say it simply looks like everybody’s much better. I probably captured that job at the right time where some people were down.” Freeze stated he’s curious how huge the gap is between Auburn and the SEC powers, as the very best players in the website are heading to the bold-faced name destinations around the league.”It’s frightening,”

Freeze stated of the gap.”And I understand I have actually improved [the roster] However is it enough to head out and complete versus Alabama in Georgia in year one or LSU? I don’t know

.”