Tag: Peyton Thorne

Cal names starting quarterback ahead of week two showdown with Auburn

Hugh Freeze and Auburn will be facing another transfer quarterback in week two.

Auburn’s week two matchup with the California Golden Bears will be a battle of transfer quarterbacks.

[autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] recently named Michigan State transfer [autotag]Peyton Thorne[/autotag] Auburn’s starting quarterback and on Thursday Cal head coach Justin Wilcox tabbed Sam Jackson V as their starter.

Jackson, a transfer from TCU, beat out Ben Finley and Fernando Mendoza for the job.

“Sam began to separate himself recently,” Wilcox revealed. “He is a dynamic athlete who can succeed both in the passing game and by making defenses account for his outstanding running ability. When your quarterback does both of those things well, it can be challenging for the defense. I’m excited to see what he does with this opportunity.”

Jackson appeared in four games in his two seasons as a Horned Frog. He completed all six of his passes for 140 yards and added 79 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.

While he has yet to prove it at the collegiate level, Jackson was a four-star prospect in the 2021 recruiting recruiting class. He ranked as the No. 32 quarterback in the 247Sports Composite.

He is looking to turn around Cal’s offense which scored 23.9 points per game last season and ranked towards the bottom of the conference in most categories.

Auburn and Cal are set to face off on Saturday, Sept. 9 at California Memorial Stadium. The game is set to start at 9:30 p.m. CT and will be on ESPN.

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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.

In Photos: Auburn’s second scrimmage of fall camp

Take a look at the best photos from Auburn’s final scrimmage of fall camp.

Auburn is nearing the end of its first fall camp under [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] as the start of the 2023 college football season is getting closer and closer.

The Tigers had their second and final scrimmage of fall camp on Saturday and freshly named starting quarterback [autotag]Peyton Thorne[/autotag] looked much better Freeze said.

“He had two really bad decisions, I thought, but really settled in and I thought played really solid. I thought he pulled a couple of good quarterback runs, and obviously we’re blowing it pretty quick. I’ll be anxious when it gets real to see what he does (running the ball). I thought he played solid. I think it was the first two possessions, I think he made two poor choices. And then he settled in and played really well.”

This comes after Freeze admitted that he thought Thorne was “pressing” in Auburn’s scrimmage last week.

Thorne was named Auburn’s starting quarterback on Thursday and will have two weeks as the top dog before Auburn opens its season against UMass on Sept. 3 in Jordan-Hare Stadium.

Here is a look at the best photos from Auburn’s scrimmage, including wide receiver [autotag]Shane Hooks[/autotag] making a catch that Freeze thought was worth of being on SportsCenter.

Auburn Tigers Snapshot Profile: No. 15 Hank Brown

Here’s what you need to know about Brown ahead of his freshman season.

Going into the 2023 football season, Auburn Wire will be looking at each scholarship player listed on the Tigers’ roster.

Over the preseason, each profile will cover where the player is from, how recruiting websites rated them coming out of high school, and what role they will play for [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] in his first season on the Plains.

Up next is true freshman quarterback [autotag]Hank Brown[/autotag]. Auburn’s youngest quarterback appears headed for a redshirt.

Preseason Player Profile

Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee

Height: 6-4

Weight: 201

Class in 2023: True Freshman

247Sports Composite Ranking

Three-Star / No. 40 in Tennessee / No. 71 QB

High School Stats

Year G Completion Percentage Yards TDs
2022 (Lipscomb Academy) 13 73.3% 3,264 47

Depth Chart Overview

Brown was committed to Freeze when he was at Liberty and decided to follow him to the Plains, spurning an offer by UAB and Trent Diler, who was his coach in high school.

He is behind [autotag]Robby Ashford[/autotag], [autotag]Peyton Thorne[/autotag] and [autotag]Holden Geriner[/autotag] who have all spent time in a college program. With him being fourth on the depth chart he appears headed for a redshirt.

Hank Brown’s Photo Gallery

Auburn Tigers Snapshot Profile: No. 12 Holden Geriner

He is in the mix to be Auburn’s quarterback of the future.

Going into the 2023 football season, Auburn Wire will be looking at each scholarship player listed on the Tigers’ roster.

Over the preseason, each profile will cover where the player is from, how recruiting websites rated them coming out of high school, and what role they will play for [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] in his first season on the Plains.

Up next is quarterback [autotag]Holden Geriner[/autotag]. He appeared in one game last season to maintain his redshirt and looks set to be QB3 behind Auburn’s older and more experienced options.

Preseason Player Profile

Hometown: Savannah, Georgia

Height: 6-3

Weight: 212

Class in 2023: Redshirt Freshman

247Sports Composite Ranking

Four-Star / No. 25 in GA / No. 18 QB

Career Stats

Year G Completion Percentage Yards TDs INTs
2022 1 67% (2-3) 8 0 0

PFF Grades

Year Offense Passing Running Pass Blocking Run Blocking
2022 62.1 61.7 – – 60.0

Depth Chart Overview

Geriner was in a battle with [autotag]Robby Ashford[/autotag] and T.J. Finley for the starting job but the arrival of [autotag]Peyton Thorne[/autotag] seems to have cemented him as the No. 3 quarterback.

His one appearance last season was due to injury and it is unlikely he will play a meaningful role this season. However, he impressed the coaching staff during spring practice with his throwing ability and has a chance to play a major role next season as he continues to develop.

Holden Geriner’s Photo Gallery

Auburn Tigers Snapshot Profile: No. 9 Robby Ashford

He is battling Peyton Thorne or the starting quarterback job.

Going into the 2023 football season, Auburn Wire will be looking at each scholarship player listed on the Tigers’ roster.

Over the preseason, each profile will cover where the player is from, how recruiting websites rated them coming out of high school, and what role they will play for [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] in his first season on the Plains.

Up next is returning starting quarterback [autotag]Robby Ashford[/autotag]. Ashford flashed his potential last season but struggled at times and is now battling Michigan State transfer [autotag]Peyton Thorne[/autotag] for the starting job.

Preseason Player Profile

Hometown: Hoover, Alabama

Height: 6-3

Weight: 218

Previous School: Oregon (2020-21)

Class in 2023: Sophomore

247Sports Composite Ranking

Four-Star / No. 12 in AL / No. 12 QB

Career Stats

Year G Completion Percentage Yards TDs INTs Rushing Yards TDs
2022 12 49% (123-250) 1,613 7 7 710 7

PFF Grades

Year Offense Passing Running Pass Block Run Block
2022 58.6 50.1 67.4 62.2 60.6

Depth Chart Overview

Ashford went through spring as Auburn’s No. 1 quarterback but [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] and Co. then went out and added a veteran transfer in Thorne and he is certainly the favorite to win the job.

Even if Ashford is unable to win the job, he could still have a role due to his rushing ability. He averaged 4.6 yards per carry last season and defenses would have to honor his ability to throw the ball.

He is still just a sophomore and if he can improve his accuracy and decision making then he has a chance to be an important part of Auburn’s quarterback room moving forward.

Robby Ashford’s Photo Gallery