Hugh Freeze says Auburn is 'open' to adding quarterback in transfer portal

Auburn is done with its spring football practice, wrapping up on Saturday with the annual A-Day game. And immediately new coach Hugh Freeze faced questions about whether Auburn might pursue a quarterback in the transfer portal.

The position was a problem for the Tigers a year ago, and there wasn’t any real new blood entering the mix this offseason.

“I think the transfer portal opens soon and we are open to any position that would help us improve our team as long as they fit within the culture, and that includes the quarterback room,” Freeze said. “I know people make a big deal out of that, but the bottom line is you’re constantly, I think, competition is helpful in those that handle it right. And those that don’t are probably not going to be the winners for you anyway.”

The two players with the most experience for Auburn are Robby Ashford and former LSU transfer TJ Finley. Ashford wrestled the job away from Finley after he struggled early in the season in 2022.

Ashford, the dual-threat quarterback, finished 123-of-250 passing for 1,613 yards. He threw seven touchdowns and seven interceptions, but he ran for 710 yards and seven touchdowns, proving to be a legitimate threat with his legs.

Finley, meanwhile, finished 33-of-53 passing for 431 yards with one touchdown and four interceptions.

“We’re open. Do I think we can win some games with what we have? Yes, I do,” Freeze said. “But I don’t ever want to be put in a box where I say something and then I do the opposite. So I don’t know the answer, I don’t know if we are. But I would be open to it.”

Whether Ashford or Finley can be consistent enough passers to win at a high level in the SEC remains to be seen. And when considering Freeze’s criteria for what it takes to player quarterback in this league, there’s ample reason to wonder if Auburn won’t try to land a quarterback from the transfer portal.

“I think you’ve got to have somebody that can make the throws in tight coverage,” Freeze said. “And you’ve got to have receivers that can get open in them, too. We’re looking for some of that and consistency in both spots.

“There’s going to be some games you just can’t, they’re going to stop the run and you’re going to have to make some throws to win the game. And we’re not proven in the room that we have that any of those have done that. I’m not saying they can’t, and I’m certainly not down on them. I think we can win games with these guys. But should a guy become available that is a dynamic guy that we think is already a proven commodity at doing that, I think that we would have to at least look at that.”

If Auburn does look to add a quarterback from the transfer portal, the NCAA transfer portal window will open on April 15 and last until April 30. Players wanting to seek a one-time free transfer must enter their names into the NCAA transfer portal during that window to avoid having to sit out a year.