Holden Geriner – Syndication Server

Auburn football lands Oklahoma transfer QB Jackson Arnold

Has Auburn found its QB1 for the 2025 season?

Following the graduation of [autotag]Payton Thorne[/autotag], the Auburn Tigers must look to a new name to lead the offense as the team’s starting quarterback.

Their search may have ended on Saturday morning.

Pete Nakos of On3 reports that former Oklahoma quarterback Jackson Arnold, who visited Auburn on Friday, has committed to the Tigers. He commits to Auburn after passing for 1,984 yards and 16 touchdowns in 16 games throughout two seasons.

Auburn head coach [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] says that Arnold is a quarterback who can succeed at Auburn due to his understanding of the current offensive system.

“He’s as natural operating the RPO game as any kid mechanically that I’ve seen,” Freeze said Saturday. “I’ve seen enough on tape that he has a clear understanding of it. The thing that excites me the most is his mechanics are as good as they get. We’re not going to have to change a thing with that.”

Arnold signed with Oklahoma as the No. 4 quarterback of the 2023 recruiting cycle, a class that included Texas quarterback Arch Manning, Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava, and South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers. The Denton, Texas native won Gatorade Player of the Year for his state after a senior season in 2023 that saw him pass for 3,476 yards and 33 touchdowns while rushing for an additional 921 yards and 24 scores.

According to Auburn athletics’ official website, Arnold is the highest-rated quarterback (based on high school ratings) to sign with Auburn. Arnold, along with 2025 signee [autotag]Deuce Knight[/autotag], will be the first five-star duo to grace the Auburn quarterback room at the same time.

Arnold will now join a quarterback competition between redshirt freshman [autotag]Walker White[/autotag] and 2025 signee Deuce Knight. Following the departures of [autotag]Hank Brown[/autotag] and [autotag]Holden Geriner[/autotag], Auburn is expected to add one more quarterback to its 2025 depth chart. Names to watch for in this regard are former Duke QB Maalik Murphy and former Stanford QB Ashton Daniels.

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‘I like what I see so far’: Maalik Murphy enjoys recent visit to Auburn

Auburn made quite the impression on Murphy during his two-day visit.

Duke transfer quarterback [autotag]Maalik Murphy[/autotag]’s recent visit to Auburn is credited as a success.

Auburn was the first stop on Murphy’s quest to find a new home after a successful redshirt freshman season at Duke. Murphy spent two days exploring Auburn’s campus and football facilities and meeting Auburn’s coaching staff. Murphy spoke with the media during his visit, where he broke down his positive experience on the Plains.

“This has been great,” Murphy said Wednesday. “Being here, being able to meet all the coaches, and be around the facilities, see the place for my first time. I’ve never been to Auburn before, and I like what I see so far.”

While on campus, Murphy spent time getting to know Auburn’s coaches and learning how he would be used in the offense should he sign with the Tigers. He listed that aspect of the visit as a positive as well.

“That’s huge for a quarterback, being able to relate to his head coach, and him being the guy that’s calling your play,” Murphy said. “So it’s been good to see it and kind of take mental notes of how I can see myself in the offense and produce.”

Murphy passed for nearly 3,000 yards and 26 touchdowns for Duke in 2024, his lone season following his transfer from Texas. According to Adam Cole of The Montgomery Advertiser, Murphy’s only scheduled visit so far and there is no timetable for a commitment. Auburn is looking to fill the void left behind by two-year starter [autotag]Payton Thorne[/autotag], as well as departing transfers [autotag]Hank Brown[/autotag] and [autotag]Holden Geriner[/autotag]. Auburn is also scheduled to host Oklahoma transfer Jackson Arnold for a visit this week.

Former Auburn QB Hank Brown to visit Big Ten program

The former Auburn QB will look to find another starting opportunity at a fellow Power Four program.

Former Auburn quarterback [autotag]Hank Brown[/autotag] is looking for a new home and could find a suitor in the Big Ten.

According to a report by Pete Nakos of On3, Brown will visit Iowa on Thursday, his first known visit of the window.

Brown entered the transfer portal this week after spending two seasons on the Plains. He played in one game as a true freshman, completing seven passes for 132 yards in Auburn’s Music City Bowl loss to Maryland. He saw action in three games as a redshirt freshman in 2024, earning two starts. He excelled in his first start against New Mexico by passing for four touchdowns. However, he was removed from his start against Arkansas one week later after throwing three interceptions in the first half.

Brown signed with Auburn as a three-start quarterback from the 2024 recruiting cycle. Originally committed to play for Hugh Freeze at Liberty, Brown followed Freeze to Auburn by committing to the program one day before signing with the Tigers on Dec. 21, 2022. His Auburn career ends with 403 passing yards, six touchdowns, and three interceptions.

Brown joins [autotag]Holden Geriner[/autotag] as an Auburn quarterback currently looking for a new home in the transfer portal. [autotag]Walker White[/autotag] returns to the unit, while [autotag]Deuce Knight[/autotag] is set to join the program as a true freshman ahead of next season. Freeze will look to add two quarterbacks from the transfer portal in this window to fill the void left behind by Brown and Geriner.

DL Gage Keys enters transfer portal after one season in Auburn

Keys, who transferred to Auburn from Kansas last cycle, is searching for his fourth collegiate home.

This week is important in terms of shaping the 2025 roster for the Auburn Tigers. In addition to the early signing period, the transfer portal is beginning to field names before its opening day of Dec. 9.

Three players from Auburn’s 2024 roster: QB [autotag]Holden Geriner[/autotag], TE [autotag]Micah Riley[/autotag], and OL [autotag]EJ Harris[/autotag] have announced their intentions to enter the transfer portal when it opens next week, and a defensive lineman is set to join them.

[autotag]Gage Keys[/autotag], a junior defensive lineman from Hilliard, Ohio, announced Monday that he will enter the transfer portal after spending one season with the program. Keys will be searching for his fourth home, as he made stops at Minnesota and Kansas before joining Auburn’s roster last cycle.

Keys transferred to Auburn in hopes of cracking the rotation on the Tigers’ defensive line. However, he managed to play in just two games, totaling 18 snaps in Auburn’s wins over Alabama A&M and New Mexico. He failed to record a tackle during his time on the Plains but registered a quarterback pressure in Auburn’s season-opener vs. Alabama A&M according to Pro Football Focus data.

Keys is the fourth Tiger to declare his intention to enter the transfer portal Several others could follow him once the early signing period begins Wednesday and concludes Friday. Check Auburn Wire for updates as transfer portal news continues to pour in.

Auburn quarterback Holden Geriner to enter transfer portal

The former top-15 quarterback prospect was buried on the quarterback depth chart for the entirety of his Auburn tenure.

Auburn sophomore signal-caller [autotag]Holden Geriner[/autotag] is reportedly entering the transfer portal following another season in a reserve role on the Plains.

A former top 15 quarterback prospect in his class, Geriner was buried on the quarterback depth chart for the entirety of his Auburn tenure. After spending his first collegiate season as the third-string quarterback behind [autotag]Robby Ashford[/autotag] and [autotag]T.J. Finley[/autotag] in the quarterback room, Geriner failed to beat out transfer [autotag]Payton Thorne[/autotag] for the starting quarterback role in 2023. With the aforementioned Ashford relegated to backup duty, the former four-star recruit saw his role once again reduced to “mop up” duty at the end of blowout games.

Things didn’t change for the better this season, as Geriner attempted just two passes in two appearances, both coming in the early season. The 6-foot-3 quarterback found himself fourth on the depth chart by the end of the season, behind the aforementioned Thorne, and freshmen [autotag]Hank Brown[/autotag] and [autotag]Walker White[/autotag]. With White and Brown expected to return next season and the likely arrival of five-star quarterback [autotag]Deuce Knight[/autotag] and at least one transfer portal signal-caller, Gernier will seek a better opportunity at a new program next fall.

Over three seasons on the Plains, the former four-star quarterback completed 9 -of-20 pass attempts for 116 yards, zero touchdowns, and one interception. Geriner officially recorded five rush attempts in an Auburn uniform, although three were sacks for negative yardage.

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Hugh Freeze shares update on Payton Thorne’s status ahead of ULM game

Will Thorne lead the offense on Saturday when the Tigers battle the ULM Warhawks?

Will Auburn be without its signal-caller for its game with ULM on Saturday?

During this week’s preview press conference on Monday, Auburn head coach [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] shared that quarterback [autotag]Payton Thorne[/autotag] was limited during bye week practices due to shoulder issues stemming from the Tigers’ loss to Vanderbilt on Nov. 2.

Freeze was hopeful earlier this week that Thorne would be ready to play, but his tune changed Wednesday during the SEC teleconference saying that Thorne was “not as far along as I’d hoped.” However, a report from Auburn Undercover revealed that Thorne will get the nod for Auburn’s game against ULM on Saturday.

Freeze said Auburn’s backup quarterbacks got plenty of reps during bye-week practices in place of Thorne, giving Freeze several options to fill the void should Thorne’s shoulder issues blend into the ULM game.

“The second open week we actually got the other guys quite a bit of reps in the three practices we had. Then we had a little scrimmage to close it out,” Freeze said. “Offense versus defense, other guys that don’t typically get reps, and offense won that scrimmage on a pass play from Walker (White) to one of the young receivers. It was good to see them get reps. We got Holden (Geriner) and Hank (Brown) quite a few also.”

Thorne ranks No. 8 among SEC quarterbacks with 1,825 yards and is tied for 6th with 13 touchdowns. Two other quarterbacks have seen action this season, [autotag]Hank Brown[/autotag] and [autotag]Holden Geriner[/autotag]. Brown started two games for the Tigers this season while Geriner has seen action in two games.

Auburn faces ULM at 11:45 a.m. CT on Saturday and will be broadcast on SEC Network.

Instant analysis: Revamped passing game shines in Auburn’s season-opening win over Alabama A&M

Auburn receivers lived up to expectations in the Tigers 73-3 win over Alabama A&M on Saturday.

Auburn football fans entered the 2024 season hoping to see new life within the passing game.

Through one game, it is safe to say that quarterback [autotag]Payton Thorne[/autotag] and the Tigers’ receivers lived up to fans’ expectations.

Thorne and backup quarterback [autotag]Hank Brown[/autotag] combined to complete 18-of-28 passes for 451 yards and six touchdowns in Auburn’s 73-3 victory over Alabama A&M. The duo combined to connect with 10 different receivers.

After [autotag]Jarquez Hunter[/autotag]’s 34-yard touchdown run with 14:13 in the 1st quarter, Auburn went on to record four receiving touchdowns over its next six drives. On the Tigers’ ensuing possession, Thorne connected with Penn State transfer [autotag]KeAndre Lambert-Smith[/autotag] on a 67-yard pass to push Auburn ahead, 14-0 with 12:47 remaining in the opening quarter. Thorne and Lambert-Smith hooked up again later in the quarter on a 4-yard touchdown pass. In-between Thorne and Lambert-Smith’s connections, freshman [autotag]Cam Coleman[/autotag] hauled in his first collegiate pass for a 44-yard touchdown to push the Tigers ahead, 21-0.

Thorne’s final passing score of the night came with 10:10 remaining in the first half when he found another true freshman, [autotag]Perry Thompson[/autotag], for a 70-yard touchdown pass to extend the lead to 38-0. Thorne passed the torch to Brown after calling his own number for a four-yard rush to give Auburn the 45-3 lead with 3:22 in the 2nd quarter.

Brown picked up where Thorne left off by throwing two touchdown passes of over 35 yards. He found freshman [autotag]Malcolm Simmons[/autotag] for a 57 yard score and later connected with Cal transfer [autotag]Sam Jackson V[/autotag] from 37 yards out. Brown’s home debut concluded after passing for 96 yards and two scores.

[autotag]Holden Geriner[/autotag] finished the game by leading Auburn’s final drive that lasted five plays, 36 yards. However, it resulted in a lost fumble.

Three Auburn receivers recorded over 80 yards of receptions: Malcolm Simmons (91 yards), Perry Thompson (82), and KeAndre Lambert-Smith (80). Cam Coleman logged 62 yards on two catches with a touchdown in his highly-anticipated debut.

Auburn football kicks off the 2024 season with a 1-0 record. Next week, the Tigers will look to remain unbeaten by hosting Cal at Jordan-Hare Stadium for a 2:30 p.m. CT kickoff.

Hugh Freeze updates QB competition as preseason camp continues

Incumbent QB Payton Thorne is expected to be QB1 for Auburn’s season opener. What’s the pecking order following him?

Several position groups remain undecided as fall camp continues at Auburn, including at quarterback.

Incumbent starter [autotag]Payton Thorn[/autotag]e is expected to resume the role as QB1 this season, but who is behind him? Many Auburn fans and college experts are curious about who would step up in the unfortunate event of an injury to Thorne or possible struggles. Head coach [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] says that he is close to establishing the pecking order.

“Yeah, I haven’t told the quarterbacks yet, so I won’t say, but I kind of know in my mind where we’re headed next week, but I’d rather tell them before I say it,” Freeze said during his media availability on Friday.

Freeze followed by saying that he, offensive coordinator Derrick Nix, and quarterbacks coach Kent Austin are on the same page when it comes to [autotag]Hank Brown[/autotag], [autotag]Holden Geriner[/autotag], and [autotag]Walker White[/autotag] and their position within the depth chart.

As for Thorne, Freeze says that he continues to develop and mold into a quarterback that fits into the current system.

“From spring until now, his understanding of what the expectations are for him have grown leaps and bounds,” Freeze said. “He does some things out there that I’m really proud of. That doesn’t mean he always executes it exactly right, but he’s thinking the right way.”

Each quarterback provides a solid case for QB2. Geriner is the veteran of the group and holds more experience, Brown had a strong showing in last season’s Music City Bowl, and the true freshman White has the tools to be one of the best quarterbacks in the SEC. Who will win the race for second place?

On3’s Jesse Simonton shares thoughts on Auburn’s QB competition

Thorne appears to be the favorite to win the job, but how long will it be his?

Although not officially decided, [autotag]Payton Thorne[/autotag] is expected to lead Auburn’s offense as QB1 for the season-opener with Alabama A&M and beyond, but how long will he keep his spot?

On3’s Jesse Simonton shared his take on college football’s top quarterback competitions including Auburn’s. He gives the nod to Thorne citing Hugh Freeze’s offseason improvements in recruiting.

“Thorne is the incumbent starter and exited spring practice in “pole position,” and all indications are Thorne has continued to separate himself in fall camp,” Simonton said. “Freeze has been flip-floppy with Throne, but Auburn has done a great job this offseason making sure its quarterback is supported by a much stronger cast of playmakers (5-star freshman wideout Cam Coleman, Georgia State transfer Robert Lewis, and Penn State transfer KeAndre Lambert-Smith.)”

However, Simonton questions how long Thorne will last as the starter. Last season, Auburn finished No. 14 in the SEC with 175.9 yards per game, 20 yards fewer than the next-highest team, Mississippi State. Simonton says that “one of the youngsters could get a look” if Thorne shows signs of struggle early. [autotag]Holden Geriner[/autotag] and [autotag]Hank Brown[/autotag] return to the QB room while Freeze prepares to develop freshman [autotag]Walker White[/autotag] for a chance to start after this season.

Auburn wide receiver [autotag]Sam Jackson V[/autotag] expects Thorne to return to his 2021 form this season. In 2021 at Michigan State, Thorne passed for over 3,000 yards and led the Spartans to a Peach Bowl win. Will Thorne reach that level again in 2024?

Where Walker White ranks in Phil Steele’s top 25 freshman quarterbacks

The future at quarterback is bright for the Auburn Tigers.

Auburn football has been in search for its perfect fit at quarterback for the last few seasons, trying to find success at the head of the offense and make some noise in the future. One of the newest faces in the Tigers’ quarterback room has the potential to be the future of the offense, gaining attention on some watch lists.

New freshman [autotag]Walker White[/autotag] has been placed at No. 10 on Phil Steele’s list of the top 25 freshman quarterbacks going into the 2024 season, giving Auburn fans a little hope for what is to come with the high school star.

White enters the program as a four-star prospect who was ranked as the No. 86 overall player and No. 7 quarterback in the nation according to the On3 industry ranking. He was also ranked as the No. 3 player in the state of Arkansas.

Steele had high praise to give for the potential young phenom, saying Tiger fans should be very optimistic of what is to come.

“Auburn fans might have found their quarterback in the future with White, who will likely use this year to redshirt behind more experienced players. He finished 5-of-13 passing for 83 yards during the Tigers’ spring game, flashing potential of what he can one day become.”

White led Little Rock Christian Academy to a state championship appearance in his senior year of high school and capped off his career with the team with 80 touchdowns.

He now sits in a quarterback room behind starting quarterback [autotag]Payton Thorne[/autotag] and with backups [autotag]Holden Geriner[/autotag], [autotag]Hank Brown[/autotag], Jackson Barkley and John Colvin.

White is likely to be next in line once Thorne graduates, but will battle with Brown for the starting spot in 2025.

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