In his second year at Auburn, coach Hugh Freeze finds himself with increased talent in key offensive positions, yet the quarterback situation remains unchanged, with veteran Payton Thorne set to reclaim the starting role. Thorne faced challenges in his debut season with the Tigers, but Auburn opted to stick with him for the 2024 campaign instead of delving into the highly competitive transfer portal for alternatives. Freeze elaborated on this decision, emphasizing the value of nurturing internal talent over engaging in costly recruiting battles for quarterbacks who may not align with the program’s ethos.
“I have faith in our quarterback group,” Freeze expressed on McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning. “I trust (quarterbacks coach) Kent Austin. I believe that with the right support around Payton, we can achieve success. We’ve glimpsed that potential, but I don’t think we’ve provided him with the full package yet.
“When weighing our options: developing Payton, Holden, Hank, and Walker, versus investing a significant sum in another quarterback, I couldn’t justify the latter. I wanted to assemble all the necessary components. That’s not to say I won’t consider it in the future, but at present, I believe in Payton’s abilities. I’ve extensively reviewed his Michigan State performances, and with two NFL-level receivers there, he excelled.”
Thorne’s statistics dipped in his inaugural season at Auburn, completing 61.1% of his passes for 1,755 yards and 16 touchdowns, alongside 10 interceptions. Despite this, the Tigers have bolstered their supporting cast this offseason, especially at wide receiver, with standout additions like five-star recruit Cam Coleman and top-100 transfer KeAndre Lambert-Smith. This influx of talent mitigates the need for a quarterback upgrade via the transfer portal.
Freeze also echoed sentiments from LSU’s Brian Kelly, suggesting that excessive NIL incentives for transfers may not be a sustainable approach.
“I’m hesitant about engaging in bidding wars for top portal prospects,” Freeze noted. “It’s not a matter of fairness; rather, I prefer to cultivate a cohesive roster with players who align with our culture.”
