Cole Cubelic makes case for Payton Thorne, Jarquez Hunter as underrated players

Auburn has not yet made an appearance at SEC Media Days but even so, there is not much buzz surrounding the Tigers. Hugh Freeze‘s team stumbled at the end of last season and wound up with a 6-7 record due to three consecutive losses. Not how anybody on the Plains wanted Year One of Freeze to end.

SEC Network’s Cole Cubelic believes Auburn will improve in 2024, citing Payton Thorne and Jarquez Hunter as underrated players. Many were calling for Thorne to be replaced out of the NCAA transfer portal this offseason, something Freeze did not do. Cubelic sees Thorne getting better thanks to Auburn’s other roster improvements.

“Everybody says ‘Payton Thorne is not good, he can’t be good. Why did Hugh Freeze spend $1.5 million on a new quarterback for half a year and that just be it?’ I think the middle of Auburn’s offensive line is going to be pretty good,” Cubelic said Tuesday of The Paul Finebaum Show.

Connor Lew is returning as the starting center, playing in between Jeremiah Wright, and Dylan Wade. The final of the three played left tackle season but now moves inside. Cubelic is confident the group will be confident and allow Auburn to run the ball well in a year where SEC defensive lines may be down.

That’s where you bring in Hunter, potentially the best running back in the SEC — at least in Cubelic’s eyes. Hunter rushed for 909 yards and seven touchdowns last year, averaging 5.7 yards per carry. Mixed with a solid interior offensive line, Freeze will have a dependable way to move the ball and keep teams guessing, eventually opening up passing lanes on the outside.

“How many people have asked you about Jarquez Hunter in the last 48 hours?” Cubelic asked Finebaum. “Nobody is talking about him. He’s the most proven back in this league, I think you could make the argument he’s the best running back in the SEC right now.

“So let’s say middle three, Jarquez Hunter are pretty good, they can run the ball. Well, what do you have to do? You have to take your alley defenders, your safeties, add an extra linebacker — you play the run. Well, that’s going to bump coverage off of you or give you less numbers in coverage where Payton Thorne is not going to have as difficult of a time completing passes.

“If you can run the ball, have the RPO game going,” Cubelic said. “Linebackers going to squeeze up, try to play the run. You pull the ball out, there’s a bigger window to be able to throw the ball into.”

Cubelic also pointed out Auburn went out of its way to add receiving talent. Cam Coleman might be the most discussed freshman in the SEC this season, while KeAndre Lambert-Smith was a huge addition through the transfer portal.

Sure, Freeze could have splashed big and found a new quarterback. A different use of resources likely improved the Auburn roster elsewhere and now gives Thorne a whole lot more opportunity.