Tag: Robby Ashford

Auburn dubbed a ‘transfer portal winner’ by The Athletic

Auburn has reeled in several notable additions from the transfer portal to fill key areas ahead of the 2024 season.

Auburn’s coaching staff is working hard to fill key areas with transfer portal additions, and are currently succeeding.

The Tigers will have added a talented wide receiver, a sturdy offensive lineman, and several solid defensive additions which should help boost its stock in the upcoming 2024 season. The haul has been impressive so far, and outlets such as The Athletic are taking notice.

Manny Navarro of The Athletic recently revealed his winners and losers from the SEC when it comes to their activity in the transfer portal. At the front of the “winners” list is Auburn. Navarro says the Tigers’ transfer additions have outweighed their departures.

Auburn’s recruiting has been on the uptick since Hugh Freeze took over. The 2024 class ranks No. 8 after the early signing period and the Tigers are also bringing in quality talent in the portal. Among the notable additions are former Georgia State standout receiver [autotag]Robert Lewis[/autotag] (70 catches, 877 yards in 2023), ex-Mississippi State left tackle [autotag]Percy Lewis[/autotag] (seven starts in 2023), former Texas and Minnesota defensive tackle [autotag]Trill Carter[/autotag] (31 career starts), ex-Duke linebacker [autotag]Dorian Mausi[/autotag] (27 starts) and former Texas safety [autotag]Jerrin Thompson[/autotag] (31 starts).

Those pickups outweigh the losses of 2022 starting quarterback [autotag]Robby Ashford[/autotag] (South Carolina) and linebacker [autotag]Cam Riley[/autotag] and safety [autotag]Donovan Kaufman[/autotag], who both ranked in the top 11 on the team in tackles last season and haven’t found new landing spots yet.

[autotag]Antonio Kite[/autotag] (CB-Alabama), Jerrin Thompson (S-Texas), Percy Lewis (OT-Mississippi State), and [autotag]Rico Walker[/autotag] (TE-Maryland) are the most notable transfer additions for Auburn so far, as they all join the roster as four-star transfers according to 247Sports.

Joining Auburn as “winners” include Ole Miss, Kentucky, and Missouri. Arkansas and Florida were teams who “broke even”, while Alabama, Mississippi State, and Vanderbilt joined the “losers” category.

Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on  X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__

Auburn transfer quarterback commits to fellow SEC school

Robby Ashford is on the move again, this time to another SEC program.

Having spent the last two seasons at Auburn, Robby Ashford has officially committed to play at South Carolina in 2024.

This will be the second time that the sophomore quarterback has transferred during his collegiate career, as Ashford originally began his college playing days at Oregon in 2020-21, but did not see any on-field action.

Across the last two seasons with the Tigers, Ashford held a combined 49.5% completion with 1,758 passing yards and a 9-9 TD-INT ratio while throwing the ball, as well as making a key impact in the running game with 927 yards and 12 touchdowns on 199 attempts.

A majority of Ashford’s production came in 2022 as Auburn’s starter under previous head coach Bryan Harsin, holding a 49.2% completion with 1,613 passing yards and a 7-7 TD-INT ratio, while also rushing for 710 yards and seven touchdowns on 153 attempts.

This past season, Ashford was Auburn’s primary backup to starter Payton Thorne in year one under head coach Hugh Freeze and rushed for five touchdowns in limited action.

Ashford is now transfer addition No. 19 for South Carolina so far this offseason, as well as the second quarterback alongside Oklahoma’s Davis Beville.

The Auburn transfer will now compete for South Carolina’s starting job in 2024, which was vacated by Spencer Rattler declaring for the NFL Draft.

Former Duck QB Robby Ashford on the move once again

Former Oregon and Auburn quarterback Robby Ashford is expected to transfer to South Carolina for the 2024 season.

Robby Ashford, former Oregon quarterback and centerfielder for the baseball team, is on the move again.

According to Matt Zenitz of 247Sports, Ashford is going to South Carolina after spending the last two seasons at Auburn.

Ashford became the starter for the Tigers in 2022 and completed 50 percent of his passes, 1,613 yards and seven touchdowns. He did throw for seven interceptions, however.

In 2023, Ashford was relegated to a backup role behind Payton Thorne, which is most likely why he will transfer to the Gamecocks.

While at Oregon, Ashford performed well in the Spring Games, but never saw the field during the regular season in his two years in Eugene.

Ashford will have a legitimate chance at earning the starting job at South Carolina as the former signal caller, Spencer Rattler, has declared for the NFL draft.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Transfer destination for Robby Ashford is revealed

The former Auburn quarterback is expected to remain in the SEC according to a report by 247Sports.

Ahead of Auburn’s trip to Nashville to compete in the TransPerfect Music City Bowl, quarterback [autotag]Robby Ashford[/autotag] announced his intention to enter the transfer portal. On Tuesday, Brad Crawford and Matt Zenitz of 247Sports reported that Ashford had found a new home.

According to the report, Ashford is expected to remain in the SEC and transfer to South Carolina.

Ashford joined Auburn’s roster in 2022 via transfer from Oregon and served as the starting quarterback for most of the season following an injury to previous starter, [autotag]T.J. Finley[/autotag]. However, he never returned to the starter role for the 2023 season under new head coach [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag]. He split time with Michigan State transfer [autotag]Payton Thorne[/autotag] before Thorne ultimately took over the starter role in November.

Ashford’s Auburn career closes with 1,758 passing yards and nine touchdowns. As a rusher, he gained 927 yards and added 12 additional touchdowns.

Ashford will now compete for the starting quarterback job at South Carolina. Previous starter, Spencer Rattler, is set to take the next step in his career by declaring for the NFL draft. He will challenge favorite Luke Doty for the role.

Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on  X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__

Where does Payton Thorne rank in College Sports Wire’s SEC QB re-rank?

Thorne had a challenging first season on the Plains. How does his 2023 campaign rank among the rest of the SEC’s quarterbacks?

It is easy to say that [autotag]Payton Thorne[/autotag] had a challenging first season as Auburn’s starting quarterback.

The Michigan State transfer began the season in a split role with [autotag]Robby Ashford[/autotag] before ultimately taking over the role as the permanent starting quarterback in November. He would go on to throw for just 1,755 yards and 16 touchdowns during the 2023 season and would pass for less than 100 yards in five games.

Where does his performance stack up against the likes of LSU‘s Jayden Daniels, Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart, and Alabama‘s Jalen Milroe? College Sports Wire breaks it down.

College Sports Wire’s Ryan Haley ranked each SEC quarterback by production during the 2023 season. Unfortunately for Thorne, he ranks near the bottom. Haley places Thorne in the No. 13 slot due to inconsistency in the passing game.

Despite the limited work, he was still one of two SEC passers to throw 10 interceptions this season, and he finished with the same number of big-time throws as turnover-worthy plays. The Auburn offense rarely asked Thorne to push the ball downfield, with 166 of his 265 attempts traveling within 10 yards of the line of scrimmage. He struggled to navigate the pocket, pressured on only 89 of his dropbacks but taking a staggering 32 sacks.

Haley places Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels of LSU at the top of the list with Alabama’s Jalen Milroe, Georgia‘s Carson Beck, Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart, and Missouri’s Brady Cook rounding out the top five. Vanderbilt’s AJ Swann is the lone quarterback ranked lower than Thorne on Haley’s list.

Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on  X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__

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].

Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on  X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__

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.

Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on  X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__

Tale of the Tape: Auburn vs. Maryland

The Tigers are a touchdown favorite to win the Music City Bowl, but could this game be closer than oddsmakers expect?

The 6-6 Auburn Tigers return to action for the first time since losing the Iron Bowl later this week when they take on the 7-5 Maryland Terrapins in the Music City Bowl on December 30.

Auburn finished the regular season with back-to-back losses but managed bowl eligibility in the first season under new head coach [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag].

On the other side, Taulia Tagovailoa and Maryland had an up-and-down season in the Big 10, winning 7 games in 12 tries.

The all-time leading passer in Big 10 history has opted out of this game, giving Auburn a significant edge according to oddsmakers. The Tigers are currently a full touchdown favorite on BetMGM.

ESPN FPI believes this game should be much closer, as Hugh Freeze’s squad has just a 52.4% chance to win according to the model.

Will the tale of the tape show us this game will be a Dixieland Delight for Auburn fans, or will Maryland fans be singing the Victory song on Broadway after the Music City Bowl?

As always we’ll start with the quarterbacks.

Tigers quarterback [autotag]Payton Thorne[/autotag] initial season on the Plains was much like a Sky Dog at 2 AM. The junior was a bit disappointing, but ultimately got the job done for the most part.

Thorne finished the regular season with 1,671 passing yards, 15 touchdowns, and 9 interceptions as Auburn’s QB1(a).

Hugh Freeze’s QB1(b), [autotag]Robby Ashford[/autotag], has joined thousands of other players in the transfer portal, leaving Thorne with the keys to the Honda Accord that is the Auburn offense.

With Ashford all but gone and incoming four-star recruit Walker White cooking in the background, Thorne has one final chance in game action to prove he can lead the Tigers into 2024.

As for the team up in Maryland, senior sensation Taulia Tagovailoa has chosen to opt out of this game, leaving sophomore quarterback [autotag]Billy Edwards Jr.[/autotag] and freshmen [autotag]Cameron Edge[/autotag] as the lone signal-callers on the Terps roster.

Both players combined for just 13 passing attempts this season although Edwards Jr. was used as a goal line quarterback, most notably rushing for 3 touchdowns against No. 1 ranked Michigan.

Maryland’s passing offense was explosive this season but the loss of Tagovailoa gives the edge to Thorne and the Tigers.

The skill positions across the offense are a different story. Auburn holds the edge at running back thanks to the electrifying [autotag]Jarquez Hunter[/autotag] but the wide receiver gap is larger than Old Line State’s obsession with Old Bay.

Maryland often employs three-reciever sets with [autotag]Jeshaun Jones[/autotag], [autotag]Tai Felton[/autotag], and [autotag]Kaden Pranther[/autotag]. Those three combined for nearly 500 more receiving yards than Auburn quarterback [autotag]Payton Thorne[/autotag] had in passing yards this season.

The Terrapins fourth target, tight end Corey Dyches, would have paced all Auburn pass-catchers as well.

Auburn tight end Rivaldo Fairweather had a solid season but the edge clearly goes to Maryland, especially considering the Tigers will be without [autotag]Ja’Varrius Johnson[/autotag] in this one.

Auburn’s defense is clearly the better unit on that side of the ball, but defensive coordinator [autotag]Ron Roberts[/autotag] has some work ahead of him due to opt outs.

Cornerbacks [autotag]D.J. James[/autotag] and [autotag]Nehemiah Pritchett[/autotag] as well as defensive lineman [autotag]Marcus Harris[/autotag] won’t be availbile for this one, leaving the 21-ranked defense according to ESPN FPI shorthanded in Nashville.

James and Harris were arguably Auburn’s two best players on the defensive side of the ball this season. It helps that linebacker [autotag]Jalen McLeod[/autotag] and cornerback [autotag]Keionte Scott[/autotag] are staying on the Plains and will be playing, but the loss of Harris, James, and Pritchett will be felt.

Maryland’s defense on the other hand isn’t great but it’s not anemic either. The Terps were solid all year long, but did give up an average of over 30 points per game in losses this season.

Head coach [autotag]Mike Locksley[/autotag] isn’t dealing with any major opt-outs on that side of the ball, making the gap between these two teams closer than the stats say.

Still, Auburn gets the edge here.

There is a reason ESPN FPI has these two teams ranked next to each other in overall ranking. While the loss of Taulia Tagovailoa gives Auburn an edge in this game, the Music City Bowl could very well come down to the wire.

Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on  X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Brian on Twitter @TheRealBHauch

Report: Robby Ashford to enter transfer portal

Ashford passed for 1,758 yards and nine touchdowns in two seasons on the Plains.

It appears that a spot has opened up on Auburn’s quarterback depth chart.

According to a report by Nubyjas Wilborn of Newsweek, sophomore quarterback [autotag]Robby Ashford[/autotag] has entered the transfer portal after spending two seasons on the Plains.

Originally signing with Oregon, Ashford returned to his home state ahead of the 2022 season. He split time with former Auburn quarterback [autotag]TJ Finley[/autotag] before Finley suffered a shoulder injury in Auburn’s loss to Penn State in week three, thus paving the way for Ashford to take the reigns of the offense.

He returned to the role of secondary quarterback in 2023, sharing time with Michigan State transfer [autotag]Payton Thorne[/autotag]. He rushed for 217 yards and five touchdowns for the Tigers this season, while passing for just 145 yards and two scores.

This chapter in Ashford’s college career closes with 1,758 passing yards and nine touchdowns. He also rushed for 927 yards and 12 scores. He has two seasons of eligibility remaining.

Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on  X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__

SEC quarterback expected to transfer at season’s end

One of the SEC’s most distinguished quarterbacks could be on the market soon.

One of the SEC’s most distinguished quarterbacks could be on the market soon.

According to a report by Matt Zenitz of 247Sports, Mississippi State quarterback [autotag]Will Rogers[/autotag] is expected to enter the transfer portal with one season of eligibility remaining. The news comes after the Bulldogs’ 17-7 loss to Ole Miss on Thursday night in Starkville, ending their season with a 5-7 record.

Rogers signed with Mississippi State as a member of the 2020 class and was a perfect match for former Bulldogs’ head coach Mike Leach. Under Leach’s leadership, Rogers passed for 10,689 yards and 82 touchdowns in three seasons.

Rogers will be a hot target in the upcoming portal, and it is easy to see why. Not only does Rogers have a proven record of being an efficient passer, but he has plenty of accolades in his suitcase as well. Rogers has won plenty of Player of the Week honors throughout his career from multiple outlets, he is on the watchlist for several awards this season such as the Maxwell and Wuerffel Award, and he owns 29 Mississippi State records.

It is too early to say what the quarterback room will look like for [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] and the Auburn Tigers next season, but it may be worth taking a look at Rogers.

With [autotag]Payton Thorne[/autotag] taking control of the offense, the status of [autotag]Robby Ashford[/autotag] is now something to keep an eye on. If Ashford were to explore the transfer portal following the season, the Tigers would need to add depth to its quarterback room. Adding an experienced quarterback to challenge Thorne while also adding to the development of incoming freshman [autotag]Walker White[/autotag] could benefit Auburn should they take that route.

Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on  X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__