Hugh Freeze updates Auburn's ongoing QB competition following Payton Thorne transfer

Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze has a choice on his hands. Before the season begins, Freeze must choose his starting quarterback. The decision won’t be easy.

Robby Ashford is the returning QB1 for the Tigers. In 2022, Ashford 123 completions on 250 attempts for 1,613 yards. In 12 games, Ashford dished out seven touchdowns and seven interceptions. The 6-foot-3 QB must step it up to retain his starting spot in the upcoming season.

Graduate transfer Payton Thorne joined the Tiger this offseason after playing three seasons at Michigan State. Thorne brings an impressive resume to Auburn. While with the Spartans, Thorne recorded 49 career touchdown passes on 524-of-860 (.609) passing for 6,494 yards in 29 career games (223.9 ypg), including 26 career starts (16-10 record).

Freeze is thrilled to have two fantastic options behind center.

“I’m very truthfully a lot more optimistic than most people are. I think we’ve got a good room,” Freeze said during SEC Media Days. “And we’ve been able to do things with quarterbacks everywhere we’ve been and produce good enough results to win.

“Obviously, we want to create competition in the room. That’s why we brought in Payton, who’s had great experiences. I think what he adds to that room right now is incredible leadership. One of the first things he did was come in and say, ‘Coach, is there any way someone can give me a sheet of paper that has a picture of everyone that works in this building because I want to learn everyone’s name? That’s the type of leader he is.”

It sounds like Ashford has his work cut out for him. Luckily for both quarterbacks, they have plenty of time to prove themselves. Auburn’s first game is against UMass on Sept. 2. Before that day arrives, Freeze has a strategy to pick his QB1.

But Phillip [Montgomery] and Kent [Austin] and our offensive staff got to present to me next week a plan,” Freeze said. “We’ve got to have a 10-day plan with three guys getting some reps and then it’s got to go down to two guys, and hopefully all of them will handle the competition aspects of it well, but that’ll tell us a lot about that.”

The decision will be vital no matter who Freeze chooses. Auburn hired the 53-year-old coach in November 2022 after Freeze Freeze led the Flames to four bowl games and a 34-15 record between 2019-22. Freeze won’t be able to pull Auburn out of its downward spiral without a trustworthy candidate at quarterback.