Tag: T.J. Finley

Hugh Freeze says that Robby Ashford’s skills are ‘hard to evaluate’

Just how good can Robby Ashford be in Hugh Freeze’s offense? It’s too early to tell.

[autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] has coached his share of talented quarterbacks since taking his first FBS head coaching job at Arkansas State in 2011.

In 10 years as a coach at this level, five of his quarterbacks have passed for more than 3,000 yards, and five also ended the season by leading the team in rushing attempts in addition to their passing numbers.

In this regard, sophomore quarterback [autotag]Robby Ashford[/autotag] has the potential to be the sixth quarterback to accomplish this feat under Freeze.

Ashford took over the role as starting quarterback late in Auburn’s loss to Penn State last season and would go on to lead the team to three wins while passing for 1,613 yards and seven touchdowns. He also rushed for 710 yards, which was second on the team behind [autotag]Tank Bigsby[/autotag].

How easy will it be for Ashford to join Chad Kelly and Malik Willis as the next talented dual-threat quarterback to play for Freeze? Well, it is too early to tell.

During Monday’s press conference, Freeze discussed the quarterback situation. Specifically, he was asked how Ashford was performing in practice. Due to the way that spring practice is conducted, where the play is blown dead if the quarterback elects to run the football, Freeze says that he doesn’t have a true grasp of what all Ashford can do.

“I don’t know,” Hugh Freeze said this week when asked about Ashford’s ability. “I don’t say that to be funny. … I haven’t witnessed him in the games. I’ve seen the tapes and stuff, but I think it’s very hard to evaluate just how good he can be practicing the way we do, so it’s just hard for me to answer.”

Is that to say that Ashford is QB1? How many reps is he truly getting with the first-team offense? Freeze continues to push his “no depth chart” stance throughout spring practice, which continues the mystery of the Auburn quarterback situation.

“I don’t care what group you trot out with on the field right now; I don’t have in my mind that this is a first-team, a second-team, a third-team guy,” Freeze said. “But I really just believe that everybody’s going to get equal reps in the spring and (we will) develop some depth, at least, before we decide where everybody is in the pecking order of depth charts.”

Ashford is among three quarterbacks that are currently battling for the top spot on the quarterback depth chart, joining [autotag]T.J. Finley[/autotag] and [autotag]Holden Geriner[/autotag]. Auburn will conclude spring practice on Saturday, April 8 with the annual A-Day game.

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Auburn QBs rank near bottom of College Football Network’s SEC rankings

Robby Ashford and T.J. Finley will have plenty to prove this season under the direction of Hugh Freeze.

Auburn’s most scrutinized position in the spring continues to make its’ national rounds.

College Football Network recently projected how each SEC quarterback would perform this season. The battle between incumbent [autotag]Robby Ashford[/autotag] and [autotag]T.J. Finley[/autotag] will be a strong one throughout the spring and into summer workouts, so College Football Network made sure to include both names in their rankings by placing them No. 11 out of 14 quarterbacks.

College Football Network’s case for Finley is that he has a chance to have the best season of his college career under what is considered to be the most competent staff he has ever worked under.

For Finley, his third year in the program should be his best, even if his career arc would indicate otherwise. With a clean slate in terms of coaching staff and scheme, the big man could rely on his athleticism to give him an advantage over Ashford if he can stay healthy and keep the ball on the right side of the field.

As for Ashford, College Football Network suggests that he needs to improve as a playmaker in order to lead Auburn to a bowl game this season.

For Ashford, he’ll have to prove he can sustain drives with his arm and not just his legs if he wants to keep or even earn the starting nod at this point. He struggled with consistency both from a decision-making and an accuracy standpoint in 2022 and relied too heavily upon his legs to garner first downs.

No matter who wins the starting quarterback role, College Football Network feels that the competition will make both players better. The good news is, despite their low ranking, Auburn’s quarterback situation ranks higher than programs looking to fill the shoes of celebrated quarterbacks, Alabama and Georgia.

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Tank Bigsby reveals his pick to win Auburn’s starting quarterback job

Bigsby feels that the new staff will give this QB the opportunity to thrive.

Auburn running back [autotag]Tank Bigsby[/autotag] closed his college career after rushing for 2,903 yards and 25 touchdowns in three seasons on the Plains.

As he prepares for the NFL draft, he is sharing his thoughts about Auburn’s 2023 roster, including who he would choose as the starting quarterback.

During his time in Indianapolis for the NFL combine, Bigsby was asked about several players who will be stepping up to take on more important roles in 2023 and says that [autotag]T.J. Finley[/autotag] has what it takes to take over the role now that the right coaches are leading the program.

“He’s a very calm guy. You know, in situations, he never trips. All the adversity he’s been through, he keeps going. He keeps fighting. He’s looking for more. I can relate to guys like that. He’s great. He’s going to be great. He’ll be fine. He’s just going to get around the right guys, and I feel like he is now. The right coaches are in, and he’s going to do what he has to do.”

Finley will enter his third season at Auburn in 2023 with 1,258 passing yards, seven touchdowns, and five interceptions. Last season, he passed for 431 yards and a touchdown before being sidelined after the Penn State game due to a shoulder injury. Finley is competing this spring with [autotag]Robby Ashford[/autotag] and [autotag]Holden Geriner[/autotag] for the starting quarterback job.

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Could Robby Ashford be the SEC’s most surprising player in 2023?

One analyst says ‘I think Robby Ashford is going to be a pretty good football player this year.’

Freshman transfer quarterback [autotag]Robby Ashford[/autotag] was thrown into the fire in 2022 and made the most of the hand he was dealt.

Filling in for an injured [autotag]T.J. Finley[/autotag] after Auburn’s loss to Penn State, Ashford ultimately took over the starting quarterback role and passed for 1,613 yards and seven touchdowns in his initial college season.

Heading into 2023, Ashford will need to prove to his new head coach that he is worthy of taking over the starting quarterback spot again. While many are doubtful of his abilities, one national college football analyst has high hopes for Ashford.

Josh Pate, the host of The Late Kick from 247Sports, says that Ashford is a winner and that he will have the chance to showcase that trait this season.

“I happen to think Robby Ashford has winning football inside of him. I don’t know whether it’s seven wins or 10 wins, I think he got the right head coach at the right time. My suspicion is that we will be watching the SEC come November if he’s healthy and say ‘I had no clue Robby Ashford was this good.’ …I think Robby Ashford is going to be a pretty good football player this year. He’s still going to have to prove it.”

Ashford is in a quarterback battle with [autotag]Holden Geriner[/autotag] and T.J. Finley this spring and will compete with incoming freshman [autotag]Hank Brown[/autotag] once he arrives on campus this summer. Hugh Freeze’s initial reaction to the quarterback room suggests that Ashford, and every Auburn quarterback, will have an uphill battle this spring.

“I thought our quarterbacks threw some decent balls, at times, and other times where our mechanics were really bad. But I kind of expected that,” Freeze said on the opening day of spring practice on Feb. 27.

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Hugh Freeze shares first thoughts on QBs following opening day of spring practice

Did Hugh Freeze like what he saw out of Auburn’s quarterbacks on Monday?

The day that head coach Hugh Freeze and Auburn fans alike have waited for has finally arrived…  it is officially spring football time.

One of the many questions surrounding Auburn football this spring is the quarterback battle between [autotag]Holden Geriner[/autotag], [autotag]T.J. Finley[/autotag], and incumbent [autotag]Robby Ashford[/autotag]. Fans expect to see a change in the lineup or an improvement in skills from those three candidates, but what needs to be done?

Freeze got his first chance to truly evaluate the position on Monday, and shared his genuine assessment of what he saw with the media.

“I thought our quarterbacks threw some decent balls, at times, and other times where our mechanics were really bad,” Freeze said following Monday’s spring practice opener. “But I kind of expected that.”

Freeze said earlier this month that it was difficult to evaluate Auburn’s returning options because of the inadequate time they had in the pocket last season. Auburn now has a revamped offensive line, which may solve some of the issues. Freeze also has two great consultants on staff in offensive coordinator [autotag]Philip Montgomery[/autotag] and quality control analyst [autotag]Kent Austin[/autotag] that will aid in the effort of finding ways to improve each quarterback.

Despite the less-than-ideal start to the spring for Auburn’s quarterbacks, Freeze says that their attitude towards improving leaves him feeling optimistic.

“If they’ll keep giving the same energy and effort that they gave today, we’ll get better throughout spring,” Freeze said.

Auburn will continue their spring practice on select dates from now until Saturday, April 8, when the annual A-Day game is set to take place.

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The Athletic breaks down Auburn Football’s biggest question ahead of spring practice

Auburn kicks off its spring practice period at the end of the month. Which position group has the most to prove?

The on-field portion of the [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] era finally begins on Monday, Feb. 27 when Auburn takes to the practice field for spring practice.

Alongside the usual questions that come with having a new man in charge, there are several other questions that Auburn hopes to answer by the end of spring, or at least be closer to finding solutions.

Most seem to point towards the quarterback position, as Freeze has mentioned publically that he welcomes the opportunity to evaluate the position himself. Also, in that same quote, he mentions the struggle up front, which may have led to issues with [autotag]Robby Ashford[/autotag] and [autotag]T.J. Finley[/autotag]’s decision-making in 2022.

It seems that Auburn can improve QB play by developing a stronger offensive line, which leads to The Athletic‘s most important question surrounding Auburn ahead of spring practice.

In a piece titled “SEC football: Biggest spring practice question facing each program(sub. required)“, Seth Emerson of The Athletic points toward both lines as Auburn’s biggest question mark. He is interested to see how Auburn’s new additions fill their need.

Hugh Freeze inherits a team that lost 10 offensive or defensive linemen with starting experience, including defensive lineman [autotag]Derick Hall[/autotag] and [autotag]Colby Wooden[/autotag]. The Tigers reached into the portal for three offensive and four defensive linemen and have several returning players with at least some experience.

The Tigers added several players that could start game one on the offensive line, such as [autotag]Avery Jones[/autotag] and [autotag]Dillon Wade[/autotag]. Auburn also received defensive line help in the form of [autotag]Justin Rogers[/autotag] and [autotag]Mosiah Nasili-Kite[/autotag], which will provide a boost to [autotag]Dylan Brooks[/autotag], Auburn’s most experienced returning defensive lineman.

Auburn’s spring practice period will conclude on Saturday, April 8, as the Tigers take the field at Jordan-Hare Stadium for the annual A-Day game.

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Could Auburn add a QB from a rival program?

Auburn is expected to be buyers when the transfer portal window opens again in May. How far will Auburn go to find a QB?

It is no secret that [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] is skeptical of his newly-acquired quarterback room.

He discussed his current quarterback situation following February signing day, saying that spring practice would be a great time to adequately judge the returners.

“Truthfully when I watched the cut-ups that I’ve watched, it’s hard. It’s hard for me to adequately judge quarterbacks if they’re not afforded the opportunity to stand in the pocket and make reads and make different throws for a decent percentage of time,” Freeze said. “The sample size for that is pretty small if they weren’t under some type of duress, or maybe it was more of a move-the-pocket scheme.”

No matter what happens during spring practice, it seems as if one quarterback, if not more, will transfer out of the program, which leaves the door open for another quarterback to step in and compete for the starting job this fall.

Bleacher Report’s Brad Shepard has an idea of who could join Auburn’s roster once the transfer portal window re-opens on May 1, former five-star and current Georgia QB, [autotag]Brock Vandagriff[/autotag].

In a piece titled Long Shot CFB Transfer Ideas for Big-Name QBs Who May Lose Key Position Battles, Shepard lists ten QBs across College Football who could be on the move following spring practice. Heading into the spring, Vandagriff will compete with Carson Beck and Gunner Stockton for the chance to replace Stetson Bennett in the starting quarterback role. Beck is the overwhelming favorite to take the job, which could leave Vandagriff looking for a new home.

With new coach Hugh Freeze on the Plains, Auburn took some transfer portal swings for guys like Devin Leary and Spencer Sanders. With incumbent [autotag]Robby Ashford[/autotag] set to battle returners [autotag]T.J. Finley[/autotag] and [autotag]Holden Geriner[/autotag], as well as incoming freshman Hank Brown, there aren’t any exciting options on paper.

Vandagriff is a 6’3″, 205-pound former 5-star from Bogart, Georgia, who didn’t play strong competition in high school and hasn’t broken through with UGA. But two years under offensive coordinator Todd Monken had to help. He may upgrade Auburn’s situation.

The 15-day window for the Transfer Portal re-opens on May 1. Auburn is set to begin spring practice on Monday, Feb. 27, and will conclude on Saturday, April 8 at Jordan-Hare Stadium with the annual A-Day spring game.

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On3 writer J.D. PicKell has grim outlook on Tigers quarterback T.J. Finley

Could T.J. Finley compete for the starting job in 2023?

Quarterback T.J. Finley’s future in the NCAA is uncertain, but it may not be on the Plains.

On3 national writer J.D. PicKell recently discussed Auburn’s quarterback room on his podcast, The Hard Count. Those among the discussion included Finley, who initially left the team late last year but then re-appeared as training began earlier in the year.

Here is what PicKell had to say about Finley on his podcast:

“TJ Finley. 12 touchdowns, 10 interceptions in his career. Was the starter last year out of camp. And, TJ Finley, (has) a lot of ability. Big arm, good athlete. But there’s a sample size there. And when people show you who they are? When people tell you who they are? You gotta believe them… TJ Finley has shown you who he is at Auburn, he has shown you what he can do at Auburn. I don’t know that we need to keep revisiting this. That sounds a little bit harsh or probably is a little bit harsh. I’m not here to dunk on TJ Finley but if you talk about success in 2023? I think you likely see him transferring out after the spring.”

Finley’s resume at Auburn hasn’t been stellar, to say the least. Finley only attempted 53 passes in 2022, but threw one touchdown to just four interceptions. The year before, when he took over for an injured Bo Nix, Finley threw six touchdowns to one interception but only completed 54.7 percent of his passes.

It’s currently unclear who coach Hugh Freeze intends to make his starting quarterback in 2023. If it isn’t Finley, it stands to reason that he may transfer out of the program in an attempt to find a starting job somewhere in college football.

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The possibility remains for Auburn to add transfer quarterback

Spring practice will be a vital time for Auburn’s QB room.

Auburn Football and head coach [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] filled several holes during the transfer portal window, especially at offensive line. However, there’s one area that still has questions.

Auburn was in the market for several quarterbacks during the 45-day period that spanned from Dec. 5 until Jan. 18, including Oklahoma State’s Spencer Sanders, NC State’s Devin Leary, and Coastal Carolina’s Grayson McCall. Auburn missed out on those targets…so what does that mean going forward?

Auburn will for sure begin the spring with the four current quarterbacks on the current– [autotag]Robby Ashford[/autotag], [autotag]T.J. Finley[/autotag], [autotag]Holden Geriner[/autotag], and [autotag]Hank Brown[/autotag]. Those four will be evaluated, and the decision to add another quarterback will be made before the second window opens on May 1.

“I think I’ll know a lot more after spring practice,” Freeze said when asked about possibly adding a quarterback during the second transfer portal window during a recent press conference.

Spring practice will be vital for Auburn’s quarterback room, as Freeze will examine how well each candidate not only progresses under the new scheme but also how well they perform with more protection from Auburn’s revamped offensive line.

“Truthfully when I watched the cut-ups that I’ve watched, it’s hard. It’s hard for me to adequately judge quarterbacks if they’re not afforded the opportunity to stand in the pocket and make reads and make different throws for a decent percentage of time,” Freeze said. “The sample size for that is pretty small if they weren’t under some type of duress, or maybe it was more of a move-the-pocket scheme.”

Auburn will begin spring workouts on Friday, Feb. 27, and the annual A-Day game is set for Saturday, April 8 at Jordan-Hare Stadium.

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Former Oklahoma State QB announces transfer decision

Spencer Sanders is heading to the SEC West, but it is not the decision Auburn fans hoped that he would make.

Hugh Freeze has made a splash in the transfer portal since taking over the Auburn Football program in late November by signing the nation’s No. 2 class according to 247Sports.

Auburn has met several needs thanks to the transfer portal, including those on the offensive line and at linebacker. Freeze and company were hoping to bring in a quarterback from the portal, but their main target has elected to sign with an SEC Western Division rival.

Spencer Sanders, the former Oklahoma State quarterback who passed for over 9,000 yards as a four-year starter for the Cowboys, has committed to Ole Miss according to a report by ESPN’s Chris Low.

Sanders becomes the second quarterback to commit to Ole Miss in as many days, joining former LSU quarterback Walker Howard. Sanders and Howard will have to battle Jaxson Dart for the starting quarterback role in Oxford.

According to a report in December, Sanders and Freeze were in contact with one another, although it was never known if Sanders visited campus, or was offered the option to transfer to the Plains. Unless more options become available following spring practice, it looks as if Auburn will hold a battle between incumbent [autotag]Robby Ashford[/autotag], returners [autotag]T.J. Finley[/autotag] and [autotag]Holden Geriner[/autotag], and freshman [autotag]Hank Brown[/autotag] for the starting quarterback job.

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