Tag: Holden Geriner

Best transfer portal quarterback options for Auburn

Auburn needs depth at the quarterback position. Here are the top transfer portal quarterbacks that could find a new home on the Plains.

Auburn has been lucky to this point in the Transfer Portal cycle, as most of its departures were not heavy contributors to the stat sheet.

There are several position groups that need a boost, one of those being quarterback. Zach Calzada announced his plans to enter the portal, and T.J. Finley is expected to do the same. With the upcoming graduation of Trey Lindsey, Auburn is down to only two scholarship quarterbacks from last season, [autotag]Robby Ashford[/autotag] and [autotag]Holden Geriner[/autotag].  Auburn currently has one quarterback committed for the 2023 cycle in Keyone Jenkins, who is the No. 98 quarterback in this class.

As Ashford continues to develop, and with Geriner and Jenkins lacking experience, Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze may elect to dip into the transfer portal to find a quarterback or two.

There are plenty of options out there, but who serves as the best fit for Auburn and Freeze’s offense? Here are the top ten quarterbacks currently in the portal that could call Auburn their next home.

Report: T.J. Finley to sit out remainder of season

Finley had played just three snaps since Auburn’s loss to Penn State on Sept. 17.

Junior quarterback [autotag]T.J. Finley[/autotag] has made a decision on his immediate future.

According to a report from Jason Caldwell of Auburn Undercover, Finley has elected to sit out the remaining two games of the regular season. Finley’s opt-out leaves Auburn with three scholarship quarterbacks on its depth chart.

A source has told Caldwell that Finley will sit out the remaining games in an effort to heal a shoulder injury that has given him complications since Auburn’s loss to Penn State on Sept. 17 at Jordan-Hare Stadium. He was diagnosed with a grade 2 sprain to his AC joint, which is believed to have happened during the later stages of the first half of that game.

Since that game, Finley has only appeared in one game, taking just three snaps in Oct. 15th’s game at Ole Miss. He did not attempt a pass in the game but lost seven yards of rushing thanks to a sack.

Finley started three games for Auburn this season, where he completed 33-of-55 passes for 431 yards, throwing four interceptions to just one touchdown. He only appeared in four games this season, so Finley could still take a redshirt option and have three years of eligibility remaining says Caldwell.

Speculation of Finley’s future with the program began swirling last week when a report surfaced that suggested that he was looking to enter the transfer portal. It grew on Monday when Finley’s name was left off of the two-deep depth chart ahead of Auburn’s game with Western Kentucky on Saturday.

With Finley’s news, Auburn is down to [autotag]Robby Ashford[/autotag], [autotag]Holden Geriner[/autotag], and [autotag]Trey Lindsey[/autotag] as scholarship quarterbacks.

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Report: T.J. Finley did not travel to Mississippi State

Auburn will reportedly be without T.J. Finley against Mississippi State.

[autotag]T.J. Finley[/autotag] went from Auburn’s starting quarterback to not traveling with the team.

According to Nathan King of Auburn Undercover, Finley did not travel with the football team to Starkville, Mississippi with the rest of the team Friday. King added that his absence was not injury related.

The junior started Auburn’s first three games before a shoulder injury forced him to miss time. In those first three games, he completed 33 of 53 passes for 431 yards and one touchdown. He has also thrown four interceptions and lost two fumbles.

Finley returned to action in Week 7 against Ole Miss to relieve a struggling [autotag]Robby Ashford[/autotag] for one series.

With Finley’s absence, true freshman [autotag]Holden Geriner[/autotag] will be Ashford’s backup. He played briefly against Missouri, completing 2 of 3 passes for 8 yards.

In addition to firing head coach [autotag]Bryan Harsin[/autotag] earlier this week, Auburn also let go of offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Eric Kiesau, and tight ends coach Brad Bedell.

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Five takeaways from Auburn’s loss to Ole Miss

Established patterns continue, but there were still some surprises on Saturday in Auburn’s defeat to the Rebels.

Auburn’s losing streak continues, but it wasn’t quite the route in Vaught Hemingway that some were expecting.

The Tigers put up a valiant fight, but the Ole Miss Rebels remained undefeated at the end of things in a 48-34 high-scoring victory for Lane Kiffin and company. There are much of the same talking points to discuss when it comes to an Auburn team that doesn’t seem to be keen on making any changes this season, but there were a few surprises here and there that made things a little interesting on Saturday.

With that in mind, here are five takeaways from Auburn’s third consecutive loss:

The Monday After: It’s time for a change, just not that one

There a couple of obvious changes needed on the Plains, but we will focus on the less obvious one.

These days everyone seems to have their eyes on the Plains. The reason for the microscope is Auburn Tigers head coach Bryan Harsin, who is 9-10 in his first 19 games for War Eagle. Not to mention the mark of 4-7 in SEC play. It is time for a change and while it doesn’t seem that the brass is ready to move on from Harsin just yet, there needs to be a change made on the offensive side of the ball.

We are talking about the quarterbacks, for now.

In 2022, there have been two quarterbacks who have made starts for Harsin. [autotag]T.J. Finley[/autotag] got the early nod after being named the starter coming out of fall camp, but he has missed a couple of games due to injury. Oregon transfer [autotag]Robby Ashford[/autotag] has started the last two games but he has flashes of brilliance and folly.

QB Comp-Att Comp% Yards YPA TD-INT Fumbles Lost
Finley 33-53 62.3 431 8.1 1-4 1
Ashford 59-123 48.0 874 7.1 4-3 2

When you break down the play of the two quarterbacks you have a combined five touchdowns and a combined 10 turnovers. The offense has ground to a halt over the last several games. Against Georgia, LSU, Missouri, and Penn State, the Auburn offense is averaging just 14 points per game, while giving up 29.5 points.

The defense is being put in precarious situations by an offense that can’t sustain drives. The 4.9 yards per play this season ranks at No. 96 overall. The 4.5 yards per play over the last three weeks ranks No. 113 in FBS. The team’s yards per point are 21.3, which lands them at No. 123 overall. Over the last three weeks that number drops to 20.8 but still ranks Auburn at No. 125 overall.

The offense needs a kickstart this week against the No. 9 Ole Miss Rebels, who have yet to lose a game through the first half of the season. It might be time to see if true freshman quarterback [autotag]Holden Geriner[/autotag] can give this team anything. Ashford does provide a boost in the running game but when it comes to throwing the football, he has become a liability.

Somethings got to give and perhaps injecting the new blood into the lineup could give Auburn the edge it needs over the last six games of the season.

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More details on T.J. Finley’s shoulder injury have emerged, expected to miss LSU game

Finley, who started the first three games for Auburn at quarterback this season, is set to miss his second straight game due to the injury.

The injury status of quarterback [autotag]T.J. Finley[/autotag] has received clarity.

According to reports, Finley has suffered a Grade 2 AC sprain to his throwing shoulder, which will cause him to miss Auburn’s upcoming game against LSU. AL.com’s Tom Green first reported the news.

Finley appeared to have suffered the injury during the first half of Auburn’s 41-12 loss to Penn State on Sept. 17 at Jordan-Hare Stadium. He began the second half of the game behind center but was ultimately replaced by Oregon transfer [autotag]Robby Ashford[/autotag].

Last week, Finley was dressed out on the sidelines but did not play in Auburn’s overtime win over Missouri. This week, he was listed as the second-string quarterback alongside true freshman [autotag]Holden Geriner[/autotag].

He is the second quarterback to have suffered a shoulder injury this fall. Last week, it was reported that Texas A&M transfer [autotag]Zach Calzada[/autotag] has elected to take a medical redshirt for the season in favor of having season-ending surgery.

Through three games this season, Finley has completed 33-of-53 passes for 431 yards and a touchdown but has thrown four interceptions.

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The full Auburn depth chart for Week 5

Last week, there were no changes — this week, there are plenty.

We have some changes this week, folks.

There has been some considerable shuffling around the depth chart for this week, with the biggest difference coming at the quarterback position — [autotag]Robby Ashford[/autotag] is set to start his second week in a row, but [autotag]T.J. Finley[/autotag] has now been listed as a co-backup with freshman [autotag]Holden Geriner[/autotag] since he is practicing this week.

In other news, [autotag]Koy Moore[/autotag] has (again) reclaimed the WRZ position with an “or”, [autotag]Jalil Irvin[/autotag] takes over at center and [autotag]D.J. James[/autotag] is listed as an “or” with Jaylin Simpson.

With all that in mind, here’s what Auburn’s depth chart will look like heading into the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry:

What can Auburn fans expect from Holden Geriner?

True freshman Holden Geriner could take his first collegiate snap on Saturday against Missouri. What style of play does he bring to the field?

Auburn head coach [autotag]Bryan Harsin[/autotag]’s appearance on the weekly radio show “Tiger Talk” was… rather interesting.

News broke earlier this week that starting quarterback [autotag]T.J. Finley[/autotag] would not play in Saturday’s game against Missouri after suffering a shoulder injury in last week’s loss to Penn State. Then, on Thursday, it was reported that third-string quarterback [autotag]Zach Calzada[/autotag] has elected to have season-ending surgery on his non-throwing shoulder.

Despite the breaking news, Harsin did not discuss Finley or Calzada’s status with the team but told Andy Burcham, the voice of the Auburn Tigers, that his policy regarding injuries is not to talk about them publically unless it is season-ending and that he wishes his team’s privacy was respected.

Although Harsin offered zero insight into the quarterback situation, it has been reported by Justin Hokanson of Auburn Live that [autotag]Robby Ashford[/autotag] will get the start at quarterback and that true freshman [autotag]Holden Geriner[/autotag] could see playing time as well.

What can Auburn fans expect to see from Geriner as he prepares to potentially see his first college action?

Geriner was the No. 18 overall quarterback for the 2022 class out of Benedictine Military Academy in Savannah, Georgia. Andrew Ivens of 247Sports says that Geriner is an intriguing quarterback prospect that has a quick release, is sound in the decision-making process and has the ability to push the ball down the field.

According to his current teammates, he is already showing potential to be a great college quarterback.

“(Geriner) can zip it,” Auburn pass rusher Marcus Harris said Monday during Auburn’s weekly media availability. “The first week he was on the scout team and he was just dotting up receivers, and he’s a pretty good quarterback. As his time goes on at Auburn, I feel he’s going to be great. He has one of the best balls I’ve seen and I think he’s going to be great.”

Geriner not only has shown potential, but he continuously works to perfect his craft.

“He carries himself like a pro already,” Harris said. “He’s staying after practice with guys and different receivers and passing the ball. Even after practice, even though he’s not playing right now, he still does those types of things.”

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Report: Auburn QB Zach Calzada to have surgery, done for the year

More bad news for Auburn on the quarterback front.

The hits just keep on rolling in for the Auburn Tigers, especially at the quarterback position. After a report earlier this week that starter [autotag]T.J. Finley[/autotag] would miss Saturday’s SEC opener against Missouri, it appears that [autotag]Zach Calzada[/autotag] will also be out. Although his prognosis is much longer.

According to On3, Calzada will require surgery on his non-throwing shoulder effectively ending his season.

The sophomore quarterback transfer from Texas A&M plans to schedule a second surgery on his non-throwing shoulder in the coming weeks. The procedure will take place in the coming weeks. Calzada will apply for a medical redshirt and if granted, will still have three years of eligibility remaining.

It was a difficult decision for Calzada, sources around the Auburn program tell Auburn Live. The redshirt sophomore competed for the quarterback position, remained prepared to play, as head coach Bryan Harsin said on Wednesday, and was available to play since the season started nearly one month ago.

Until the surgery, Calzada will continue his work on the scout team and helping prepare the Tigers’ defense.

This news involving Calzada leaves former Oregon Ducks transfer [autotag]Robby Ashford[/autotag] and true freshman [autotag]Holden Geriner[/autotag] as the lone healthy scholarship quarterbacks on the roster. We could get a glimpse of the future on the Plains a lot sooner than expected.

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REPORT: T.J. Finley to be named Auburn’s starting quarterback

T.J. Finley has reportedly won the quarterback battle and will start against Mercer on Satuday.

Auburn football has their new starting quarterback. According to ESPN’s Chris Low, [autotag]T.J. Finley[/autotag] will be the Tigers starting quarterback.

Auburn opens the season Saturday against Mercer in Jordan-Hare Stadium.

Finley, who started Auburn’s last three games in 2021, beat out Oregon transfer [autotag]Robby Ashford[/autotag], Texas A&M transfer [autotag]Zach Calzada[/autotag], and true freshman [autotag]Holden Geriner[/autotag] to win the job.

Finley, who is Auburn’s only returning quarterback from last season, completed 70-of-128 passes for 827 yards, six touchdowns, and one interception last season. He memorable led a 98-yard touchdown drive to beat Georgia State in relief of Bo Nix.

The 6-foot-7, 250-pound Finley began his career at LSU and started five games as a true freshman before transferring to Auburn ahead of the 2021 season.

Calzada was seen by many as the favorite to win the job but Finley has improved both as a leader and addresses some of his accuracy concerns. This allowed him to surge ahead of an inconsistent Calzada. According to Low, Finley impressed Harsin with his “improved command of the offense.”

Auburn has not made an official announcement.

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