Athletes who remain in the transfer portal still have time to choose their next destination, but there are several talented prospects who have already found their new home.
Now that the calendar has turned to May, USA TODAY Sports columnist Blake Toppmeyer has given a grade to each quarterback who has transferred into the SEC this season, including new Auburn signal caller [autotag]Payton Thorne[/autotag].
Thorne joined Auburn’s roster back on May 5 and is poised to compete with incumbent starter [autotag]Robby Ashford[/autotag] and [autotag]Holden Geriner[/autotag] for the QB1 spot this fall for Hugh Freeze’s new-look offense.
Toppmeyer lists Thorne as the second-best quarterback transfer to enter the SEC this season and gives the former Michigan State Spartan a C+ grade.
Hugh Freeze seized a quarterback with two years of starting experience during the spring transfer window. That’s good news after Auburn whiffed on adding a transfer quarterback in the winter. The downside is Thorne threw 21 interceptions the past two seasons. Assemble talent around Thorne, and he looks good. See 2021, when Michigan State went 11-2. Put too much on his shoulders, and he’ll struggle. See ’22, when Sparty regressed to 5-7. Thorne upgrades AU’s quarterback situation as compared to the Bryan Harsin era.
Who are the other quarterbacks on the list? Here’s a look at what grades each transfer quarterback within the SEC has received from Toppmeyer.