Auburn Football has announced the departure of one of its top experienced players, as Robby Ashford finds a new home at South Carolina. The former Auburn quarterback seems to be enjoying his time with the Gamecocks more than he ever did at Oregon or Auburn, revealing that he has finally found what he was looking for in Columbia.
Ashford, who had a tumultuous time at both Oregon and Auburn, suggested that the atmosphere among his former teammates was less than ideal, with many players focused solely on their own success.
“It’s been better than any competition I’ve ever been in. In a lot of competitions, weird stuff goes on, but this room, I haven’t seen any of that,” Ashford shared in an interview with The Greenville News. “There was a lot of individualized stuff at the other places I’ve been, everybody wanted it for themselves, and it drew a lot of people apart, forcing people to pick sides, that’s not healthy for a team … when I came [here] and knew it was a competition, I didn’t want any of that to happen.”
Ashford has been named as LaNorris Sellers’ backup after committing to Shane Beamer’s South Carolina Gamecocks, with a chance to compete for the starting job. His move has raised some eyebrows, especially considering the contrasting evaluations of his talent.
“Talent evaluation can be subjective in nature,” said Mike Gittens of The War Rapport earlier this year. “Hugh Freeze did not feel like Robby Ashford was an SEC caliber QB, but Shane Beamer does. Not only does he believe that, but the thinking inside the building is that he will be the best QB in the room once he steps on campus. I think it’s his job to lose. Sure, he can lose it, but his chances of starting over [Luke] Doty are good.”
During his time at Auburn, Ashford competed in quarterback battles against other transfers, including TJ Finley in 2022. While Finley initially won the starting job out of fall camp, Ashford eventually took over by Week 4, playing a crucial role in saving then-coach Bryan Harsin’s job with a narrow victory against Missouri.
However, after Hugh Freeze took over as head coach and added Michigan State transfer Payton Thorne, it became clear that Ashford was no longer in Auburn’s plans for the future. This likely contributed to Ashford’s decision to leave, as many transfers expect a starting role at their new school.
Ashford’s journey highlights the challenges faced by transfer players, who often navigate complex team dynamics while seeking opportunities to showcase their talents. As he begins this new chapter at South Carolina, Ashford seems to have found the supportive and competitive environment he was searching for.
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