Hugh Freeze provides timeline for Auburn football quarterback battle

Freeze gave a timeline for the quarterback battle as we get closer to fall camp.

Author:
Lance Dawe
Publish date:
Jul 18, 2023 6:00 PM EDT

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Auburn Tigers

Auburn fans want to know who their starting quarterback is going to be this fall.

Most already have an idea, but Freeze has yet to discuss how he and the staff want to approach the battle in August.

Freeze was asked at SEC Media Days about a timeline for the quarterback battle.

"Yeah, I told Ken and Philip yesterday that they need to present to me a plan by next week," Freeze said.

Auburn's current quarterback room includes incumbent Robby Ashford, who was inconsistent but electric as a freshman a season ago, Holden Geriner, a redshirt freshman and former four-star QB that saw one snap of action a season ago, Hank Brown, a three-star signee in the 2023 cycle, and Payton Thorne, a transfer from Michigan State.

Thorne is currently the projected starter, but Freeze and his staff are electing to have a battle that works its way into fall camp.

"Look, Hank Brown, I love that he can make every throw, but realistically you can't get four kids reps and camp," Freeze said. It's probably is going to be, you know, those other three (quarterbacks) for the first 10 days trying to get enough reps where we get it down to at least two guys and then move from there."

10 days of Ashford, Thorne and Geriner taking reps with the race trimmed to two shortly after.

Here's an in-depth look at Auburn's QB room:

Payton Thorne

Thorne was a two-year starter at Michigan State before transferring to Auburn over the weekend. The Tigers were in search of a new starting quarterback, and the expectation among fans is that Thorne comes in and wins the job in fall camp with (relative) ease.

It's unknown how Hugh Freeze is going to play things out before Auburn takes the field vs UMass, but expect incumbent Robby Ashford to push for the job regardless.

Thorne finished an accomplished quarterback at Michigan State, setting single-season records for total yards, total touchdowns and passing touchdowns. He ranks fifth in career total touchdowns, fifth in career total yards, fourth in career passing touchdowns and third in single-season passing yards.

He's not a dazzling arm talent but was excellent attacking downfield in his two seasons with the Spartans. He's a great system fit for Freeze and Montgomery.

Career pass attempts - 861 (7.5 YPA)

Career pass yards - 4,693 (61.0%)

Career pass touchdowns - 49

Career rush yards - 270

Career rush touchdowns - 6

Best game of career: Vs Pittsburgh (12/30/2021) - 29-of-50 passing, 3 touchdowns, 1 interception

Robby Ashford

Ashford spent his first two seasons at Oregon, where he did not see the field. He transferred in to Auburn in 2022 and earned the backup role to TJ Finley to begin the season. He essentially split time with Finley on the field through the first two weeks.

Following Finley's injury in week three vs Penn State, Ashford took over the starting role and never relinquished it - completing only 49.2% of his passes on the season but showing serious promise as a dual-threat - churning out over 700 rushing yards and solidifying himself as the best option in Auburn's quarterback room heading into 2023.

Hugh Freeze, known to develop quarterbacks well, should be able to elevate Ashford's passing game. If the Tigers decide to ride with him as starter, and Freeze is able to round him out as a true quarterback, he could be a serious problem in the SEC next season.

The athleticism is more than there. Polishing up his mechanics is the next step.

Career attempts completions - 250

Career pass yards - 1,613

Career pass touchdowns - 7

Career rush yards - 710

Career rush touchdowns - 7

Best game of career: At Alabama (11/26/22) - 11-of-23, 77 yards, 1 TD, 17 carries, 121 yards, 2 TD OR Vs LSU (10/1/22) - 19-of-38, 337 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT, 11 carries, 19 yards

Holden Geriner

Geriner now enters his second season with the Tigers after redshirting in 2022.

He recorded a stat in one game - coming in for a drive against Missouri - but did not receive any sort of meaningful playing time.

While raw, it was evident in fall camp that Geriner had the best passing mechanics in Auburn's quarterback room. It will be interesting to see how Hugh Freeze works with Geriner - or, if Freeze decides to bring in a QB from the portal, Geriner may decide to transfer himself. The former four-star quarterback has talent and could work well in a system like Freeze's.

Career pass attempts- 3

Career pass yards - 8

Career passing touchdowns - N/A

Career rush yards - N/A

Career rush touchdowns - N/A

Best game of career: N/A

Hank Brown

The Baby Goat himself.

Brown joins the 2023 Auburn football quarterback room as a three-star freshman from Lipscomb Academy in Nashville, Tennessee.

Originally committed to Liberty, the 6-foot-4, 195 pound signal-caller won't be involved in the race this season, but should expect to compete with 2024 four-star commit Walker White in future seasons.

Career pass attempts- N/A (73.3% as a HS senior)

Career pass yards - 3,264 yards

Career passing touchdowns - 47

Career rush yards - N/A

Career rush touchdowns - N/A

Best game of career: N/A

*All numbers are high school stats.