Holden Geriner – Syndication Server

Leadership is strong within Auburn’s QB room

Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze is pleased with his quarterbacks’ desire to get better ahead of Saturday’s A-Day game.

Auburn fans are set to flock to the Plains this weekend to watch Auburn’s annual A-Day game. One of the many aspects that fans will be watching this Saturday is the quarterback rotation.

[autotag]Payton Thorne[/autotag] is set to return as Auburn’s incumbent starter, but returners [autotag]Holden Geriner[/autotag] and [autotag]Hank Brown[/autotag], as well as true freshman [autotag]Walker White[/autotag], are working towards taking the starting role.

How have Auburn’s quarterbacks progressed? Head coach [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] says that they are not where he would like for them to be, but there is one aspect of the room that he is truly impressed with.

“Leadership has been really good,” Freeze said. “Our decision-making has not been exactly what I want it to be just yet, but, boy, they’re hungry to learn.”

According to a report by Richard Silva of The Montgomery Advertiser, Thorne continues to see the most action with the first team this spring due to his experience in the role, as well as his understanding of opposing defenses. It appears that the backup competition is between Geriner and Brown. Geriner has taken the most second-team snaps, while Brown is looking to build off of his Music City Bowl outing where he passed for 132 yards.

When it comes to White, Silva says that he appears more experienced than his age would lead everyone to believe. Earlier this spring, Thorne told reporters that White is great at asking questions, and is eager to learn as much as he can.

A-Day is scheduled for Saturday at 1 p.m. CT at Jordan-Hare Stadium.

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Robby Ashford among top quarterbacks remaining in transfer portal

Brad Crawford of 247Sports considers the former Auburn quarterback one of the best available transfer portal options.

Former Auburn quarterback [autotag]Robby Ashford[/autotag] is still looking for a new home. However, he may cash in his luck sooner rather than later.

Following the announcement of Maryland quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa’s decision to enter the transfer portal, Brad Crawford of 247Sports updated his list of the top quarterbacks remaining in the transfer portal. Out of all the available quarterbacks, Ashford checks in at No. 8.

Ashford is above Arizona transfer Jayden de Laura and New Mexico State transfer Diego Pavia on Crawford’s list. Crawford recaps Ashford’s brief but productive two-year stay in Auburn.

After initially transferring to Auburn from Oregon per Auburn Undercover, Ashford was Auburn’s primary starting quarterback during the 2022 season, taking over for nine games after T.J. Finley’s early season injury. Ashford completed 49.2 percent of his passes for 1,613 yards, seven touchdowns and seven interceptions.

Auburn head coach [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] said following his team’s loss to Maryland in the TransPerfect Music City Bowl that the quarterback competition at Auburn is “wide open” for the 2024 season. He did not indicate that he would be looking into the transfer portal for his next starter, however, there are many solid options available such as USC‘s Malachi Nelson, James Madison’s Jordan McCloud, and Matthew Sluka at Holy Cross.

Auburn will head into spring practice with four quarterbacks set to compete for the open position: [autotag]Payton Thorne[/autotag], [autotag]Holden Geriner[/autotag], [autotag]Hank Brown[/autotag], and true freshman [autotag]Walker White[/autotag].

Auburn’s QB woes will bleed into 2024 season

After a disappointing performance by Auburn quarterbacks in the TransPerfect Music City Bowl, Hugh Freeze will need to find a consistent option for the position in 2024.

One of the main inconsistencies surrounding Auburn’s football program dating back as far as the 2021 season is quarterback play.

This season was no different, as [autotag]Payton Thorne[/autotag] and [autotag]Robby Ashford[/autotag] split snaps in 10 of Auburn’s 13 games this season. Ashford’s role was not surprising to him, as he shared snaps with TJ Finley during the 2022 season as well.

However, after it was made obvious that Thorne would be the main guy rolling into the 2024 season, Ashford elected to enter the transfer portal.

Problem solved, right? The issue is far from being resolved.

Three quarterbacks saw action for the Tigers in their 31-13 loss to Maryland in the TransPerfect Music City Bowl last Saturday, combining to complete 21-of-42 passes for 224 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. Auburn starter [autotag]Payton Thorne[/autotag] managed to complete 13-of-27 passes for just 84 yards and a score while [autotag]Holden Geriner[/autotag] could only complete 1-of-6 passes for eight yards. Both players threw one interception in the contest.

True freshman [autotag]Hank Brow[/autotag]n was Auburn’s most efficient passer by passing for 132 yards on seven completions.

Brown’s performance, and the lackluster efforts from Auburn’s two most experienced signal callers, leaves [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] to make serious decisions regarding the position in 2024.

Freeze told reporters that the quarterback job is “wide open” for next season following Auburn’s bowl loss, and that everyone will need to step up in order to earn the right to be called QB1 next season.

All three of Auburn’s quarterback participants are set to return next season, and true freshman [autotag]Walker White[/autotag] is set to join the roster in January, thus throwing his name into consideration for the job during spring practice.

Although Freeze has mentioned that he plans on staying with his current quarterback unit for the 2024 season, there are several viable options remaining in the transfer portal as of the timing of this post. Several uncommitted names that remain in the transfer portal include Missouri’s Jake Garcia, Florida State’s Tate Rodemaker, and USC‘s Malachi Nelson.

No matter who wins the quarterback battle in 2024, I think every Auburn fan would love more consistency out of the winning candidate going forward.

Auburn announces depth chart for game against Ole Miss

Auburn will keep the starting lineup the same for their Week 8 matchup with Ole Miss.

After a two week break, Auburn is set to return to Jordan-Hare Stadium to take on the Ole Miss Rebels. The Tigers are looking to snap a three-game losing streak and they have announced their depth chart for the game.

The Tigers have had to make several changes over the past weeks due to injury but that is not the case this week. The only change on the offense was removing the OR between quarterbacks [autotag]Robby Ashford[/autotag] and [autotag]Holden Geriner[/autotag] as backup to [autotag]Payton Thorne[/autotag].

Ashford has seen plenty of action as [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] and offensive coordinator [autotag]Philip Montgomery[/autotag] have used Ashford and Thorne in a two-quarterback system. Grenier has attempted just nine passes and was clearly behind Ashford.

Auburn also made some adjustments to the depth chart on defense, [autotag]Champ Anthony[/autotag] is now the backup at star instead of [autotag]J.D. Rhym[/autotag]. In a corresponding move, Anthony is no longer listed as a backup at boundary cornerback, leaving Rhym as the only reserve.

Here is a look at the full depth chart.

Hugh Freeze is not giving up on Payton Thorne yet

Freeze has pledged to better prepare Thorne for SEC competition going forward.

Auburn’s offense has not gotten off to as hot of a start as most had hoped, especially with the likes of [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] and [autotag]Philip Montgomery[/autotag] running the offense.

Starting quarterback [autotag]Payton Thorne[/autotag] has recorded 100 or more yards just twice this season and has been yanked in favor of [autotag]Robby Ashford[/autotag] or [autotag]Holden Geriner[/autotag] in several games.

According to stats from Pro Football Focus, Auburn receivers have not dropped a pass this season despite Thorne only completing 65% of his passes. He has also been pressured 21 times with 11 of those pressures ending in sacks.

Freeze was asked about the possibility of switching quarterbacks for the team’s upcoming game with Georgia. He says that he is sticking with Thorne for now, but Geriner could see more action following the bye week, which is scheduled for next weekend.

During Wednesday’s SEC teleconference, Freeze took accountability for Thorne’s play so far and said that Thorne has acknowledged his struggles as well.

“We’re asked to be psychologists along with being a coach. I feel like there’s things our staff has let him down on. Some of it is him, and he knows that and owns it,” Freeze said. “But I promised him we’d do a better job coaching him this week and preparing him and when you say coaching him, that also means the other positions that need to be in the right spots at the right times. At the same time, if you’ve got a wheel route that’s wide-open, you’ve got to hit it.”

It appears that Thorne is getting one last chance to prove his worth, and Freeze is going to work harder to make him more comfortable in Auburn’s offensive scheme. He hopes to see the adjustment pay off soon.

“This thing’s got to turn into a positive vibe somehow,” Freeze said. “And it takes some mental toughness to do that on (Thorne’s) part and our part. In the coming weeks, we need to see some progress.”

Thorne’s next chance to put it all together will be Saturday at 2:30 when the Tigers host No. 1 Georgia at Jordan-Hare Stadium.

Charles Barkley weighs in on Auburn’s quarterback struggles

One of Auburn’s most beloved alumni has something to say regarding the “most important position in sports.”

There is no doubt that the quarterback position is the unit that has experienced the most struggle through the first four games of the 2023 season.

Auburn’s Payton Thorne has thrown for over 100 yards just twice this season, and zero Auburn quarterbacks have thrown for over 100 yards against a Power Five opponent since the loss to Arkansas on Oct. 29 of last season.

The strain of quarterback play to Auburn’s success has called for one of the University’s most beloved alumni to share his take on the matter.

Charles Barkley, former NBA star and current analyst for NBA broadcasts on TNT, joined Birmingham sports talk show The Next Round to discuss his thoughts on Auburn football to this point of the season.

He referenced Hugh Freeze’s role in a mass baptism that took place on campus two weeks ago when discussing his alma mater’s quarterback play.

“If y’all gonna be down there baptizing people, please pray for better quarterback play,” Barkley said. “Let’s get these three quarterbacks and baptize them and maybe the Lord can make them play better.”

Barkley went on to provide an honest analysis of Auburn’s quarterbacks and declared what he would do if he were in Freeze’s shoes.

“Because the one thing you can’t do as a coach, you can’t have your quarterback playing scared,” Barkley said. “You can’t have your quarterback playing scared or looking over his shoulders. You can’t play three quarterbacks, you can’t play two quarterbacks. Because that’s the most important position in sports, but the number one thing you have to have as a player is confidence in yourself to make good plays and bad plays. If you are scared to make bad plays you can’t make good plays, and right now they are in no man’s land.”

Auburn quarterbacks [autotag]Payton Thorne[/autotag], [autotag]Robby Ashford[/autotag], and [autotag]Holden Geriner[/autotag] have combined to complete 60-of-101 passes for 693 yards and five touchdowns with three interceptions. The next opportunity for them to improve their numbers will be Saturday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. CT against Georgia at Jordan-Hare Stadium.

Hugh Freeze press conference review: Georgia week

Freeze hit on a number of topics including his thoughts on the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry, Kirby Smart’s success, and quarterback play.

[autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] returned to the podium to address the media following his team’s 27-10 loss to Texas A&M on Saturday and spent time sharing his thoughts ahead of Saturday’s game with Georgia.

One of the main points of emphasis in Monday’s presser was quarterbacks. Starter [autotag]Payton Thorne[/autotag] passes for less than 100 yards for the second-straight game and has failed to consistently complete 75% or more of his passes. Backup [autotag]Robby Ashford[/autotag] has gotten looks, but he has not won the battle over Thorne yet.

Third-stringer [autotag]Holden Geriner[/autotag] played several snaps in the Texas A&M game, could he potentially start Saturday against Georgia? Freeze shut down that possibility Monday but described the diagram for Geriner to get more looks.

“I think Holden, if he ends up at some point being the guy, he must have a lot of reps. I love the way he seemed poised. His throws were inaccurate. Two balls out of bounds. He threw one really good one. Really, he was about 1-for-5 in accuracy. We are talking about a guy that we haven’t given quality reps. I think he, with the quality reps, could be more accurate. He has the quickest release. He stands tall in the pocket, and I don’t remember him having an enormous amount of pressure around him at that time, so that remains to be seen. Something that we must look at during the off week. I have a lot of things; I have a whole list that I have formulated.”

Freeze hit on a number of topics including his thoughts on the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry, Kirby Smart’s success, and his view on playcalling.

Here’s a rundown of everything Hugh Freeze said during his Georgia week press conference on Monday.

Gunner Britton named SEC offensive lineman of the week

Britton played nearly perfect in week one by not allowing one QB pressure and helping the Tigers run wild.

Auburn offensive lineman [autotag]Gunner Britton[/autotag] was named the SEC offensive lineman of the week on Monday, becoming the first Auburn Tiger of the season to capture SEC player of the week honors.

Britton, who spent most of camp working at the right tackle position, started at left guard in Saturday’s opener, eventually playing three positions along the long during the game.

Britton did not allow a QB pressure during his on the field, helping the Auburn offensive line keep quarterbacks [autotag]Payton Thorne[/autotag], [autotag]Robby Ashford[/autotag], and [autotag]Holden Geriner[/autotag] upright for the entirety of the game.

Britton was also a key reason Auburn was able to rush for 289 yards and six against the UMass defense. His ability to play positions across the line allows the other Tiger linemen to stay fresh, rotating in and out of the game.

Head coach [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] spoke about Britton’s versatility following Auburn’s opening game victory.

“I think it just speaks to his importance to us, he needs to be on the field, and we need to stay fresh because we do like to go fast.”

Britton made sure to shout out his teammates and relay his focus back to the remainder of the season when asked what winning the award meant to him.

“It’s a blessing,” Britton said. “It’s not really about me. It’s about my teammates and what they do for me. I can’t wait to call my dad. He’s going to probably cry. It will be a good thing for my whole family. It’s a big accomplishment but for me, it’s the first game. I’ve got 11 more, hopefully, 12 and 13.”

Britton may have many more games ahead of him this season, and if he plays anywhere close to the way he played in week one he may end up with a few more awards than just one SEC offensive lineman of the week.

Britton and the rest of the Auburn o-line will look to continue their success from week one when the team flies across the country to take of Cal at 9 pm CST on Saturday.

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Gallery: Pregame sights ahead of Auburn’s season-opener with UMass

Here is a look at the best pregame images ahead of Hugh Freeze’s Auburn debut.

The Hugh Freeze era is officially underway.

Freeze has just experienced his first Tiger Walk and the Tigers are on the field warming up ahead of their season-opener with UMass.

Today marks a new era for the Auburn offense, as [autotag]Payton Thorne[/autotag] is set to take over the starting quarterback role for the Tigers following a preseason battle with [autotag]Robby Ashford[/autotag] and [autotag]Holden Geriner[/autotag]. However, Auburn will be missing several players.

Richard Silva of the Montgomery Advertiser reports that Jarquez Hunter, Nehemiah Pritchett, Nick Mardner, Caleb Wooden, and JD Rhym are not dressed out for today’s game.

Here is a look at Hugh Freeze’s first Tiger Walk as Auburn’s head coach.

How Payton Thorne can win the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award (and maybe the Heisman)

Is a special season brewing for Payton Thorne?

The Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Foundation released its preseason watch list on Wednesday. Among the quarterbacks listed was recently named Auburn starting signal caller [autotag]Payton Thorne[/autotag].

After coming to Auburn as the favorite to quarterback the team in 2023, Thorne struggled a bit in spring and fall camp, allowing [autotag]Robby Ashford[/autotag] and [autotag]Holden Geriner[/autotag] to push the quarterback competition all the way up to mid-August before he eventually won the job last Thursday.

Thorne spoke to the media for the first time since being named QB1 on Wednesday. He seems confident in his growth within the offense.

“I think I’m an accurate quarterback… I feel like when we’ve been going fast in my past [in the] two-minute drill, I feel like we were efficient doing that,” Thorne said. “With the up-tempo stuff, I feel like that was a plus in my game the last two years. Just seeing defenses, being able to think quick and process quickly is definitely something you have to do in this offense and I feel like I’m able to do that. Now [it’s] about going out and executing.”

Thorne will need to go out and execute at a high rate frequently this year if he hopes to win the Golden Arm Award, which is given to the top upperclassman quarterback in college football. The watchlist includes 47 other names from across the NCAA, including Heisman favorites like [autotag]Caleb Williams[/autotag], [autotag]Quinn Ewers[/autotag], and old friend [autotag]Bo Nix[/autotag].

Thorne’s path to winning the Golden Arm will undoubtedly be difficult (he is currently +20000 to win the Heisman on Fanduel), but as NBA legend Kevin Garnett once said, “anything is possible.” If he can accomplish these four things, he’s got a chance.