Auburn football landed a major recruiting victory as a four-star quarterback announced his commitment to the Tigers, choosing Auburn over SEC rivals Florida and Georgia. This commitment provides a much-needed boost to the program, especially amid concerns over their current quarterback situation.
Head coach Hugh Freeze is facing pressure following the Tigers’ recent struggles, particularly at the quarterback position. In Auburn’s recent game against Cal, senior quarterback Payton Thorne had a rough outing, throwing four interceptions. Though Thorne’s poor performance raised questions about his starting role, Freeze has kept the door open for possible changes.
“We’re sticking with Payton for now,” Freeze said after the game. “He’s consistently been the best performer in practice and has the strongest command of the offense. His understanding of what we want to do has been better than the others.”
However, Freeze acknowledged that if Thorne’s on-field performance doesn’t improve, changes could be necessary. “Could a change happen? Yes,” Freeze admitted. “I want to see how the week goes and how everyone responds to the tape. We all have to own what we see and make necessary adjustments.”
Currently, backup quarterback Hank Brown will have an opportunity to compete during practice this week. “Hank will definitely get his share of reps,” Freeze noted. “But it can’t just be about execution in practice anymore—we need that to carry over into the game.”
With Auburn needing a sharper passing game, Freeze might be forced to make a decision sooner than anticipated. The upcoming practices will be crucial as the Tigers prepare for their next matchup, and all eyes will be on whether Freeze sticks with Thorne or turns to Brown for a fresh start.
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