Hugh Freeze could raise Auburn's 2023 ceiling by adding either Payton Thorne, Casey Thompson

Texas’ Maalik Murphy opted not to enter the transfer portal. Same for Devin Brown from Ohio State. But while the second window doesn’t have much star power, particularly at the quarterback position, Hugh Freeze suddenly does have a couple of intriguing options to (ideally) add to Auburn’s roster that would change the ceiling of the Tigers’ 2023 season. 

Nebraska transfer quarterback Casey Thompson visited Auburn on Sunday. Michigan State transfer Peyton Thorne is expected to visit the Plains soon, too. 

Both are better options than anyone currently in Auburn’s QB room, and would take the Tigers from a fringe bowl team in the fall to a team that could beat anyone on its schedule not named Georgia, LSU or Alabama.

It’s no secret that the Tigers are in the market for QB help. Back in December, Freeze kicked the tires on Coastal Carolina quarterback Grayson McCall. Auburn also flirted with NC State’s Devin Leary and Oklahoma State’s Spencer Sanders. But it whiffed on both, so Freeze entered the spring hoping to see real development from Robby Ashford, T.J. Finley, and Holden Geriner. And while the group had its moments, Freeze was largely underwhelmed by their performances over the course of 15 practices, lamenting deep into spring that he wished they were “further along.”

By A-Day, Freeze was on record that Auburn was “open” to adding a slew of transfers to the roster, looking to fill needs at rush end, corner, and you guessed it, quarterback. 

“If it’s the right one,” Freeze said. 

“I’m curious to see who all goes in.”

During the second portal window, Freeze has been rather selective in his targeting a potential addition to Auburn’s QB room. He showed no interest in Tyler Buchner, who ended up at Alabama and has passed on others who were available, too. 

Just last week, Freeze was on a speaking tour and updated his hunt for a transfer portal quarterback, telling alumni, “Truthfully, I haven’t seen one yet that I thought was ‘bam,’ that’s a no-brainer and ahead of the ones we have,” Hugh Freeze said according to a tweet by Auburn athletics reporter Jeff Shearer.

“I know some may not want to hear that because they think an instant fix. I get the tweets, trust me. Every time a quarterback goes into the portal, ‘there he is, there he is,’ and then I watch the film and that’s really not the one I’m looking for.”

“There could be one that goes in tomorrow or the next day that alright, this one makes sense. That’s as clear as I can put it, I think.”

Thompson and Thorne both entered the portal after Freeze’s comments. 

Sure, Maalik Murphy would’ve been a home run for the Tigers, but Thorne and Thompson are attractive consolation prizes considering the options in the portal. Hitting a double would be huge here. Regardless, Auburn simply can’t strike out again.

Although neither quarterbacks are flawless players, but both would significantly upgrade a Tigers’ passing attack that ranked No. 119th in 2022. 

Thorne has two years of starting experience, with 46 touchdowns to 21 picks in the last two seasons. He helped lead the Spartans to their surprising 11-win year in 2021, and still has two years of eligibility remaining. 

Thompson was beat out at Nebraska by Georgia Tech transfer Jeff Sims, but the former Texas starter in 2021 (28 total touchdowns to nine picks) is a quality Power 5 starter and a better version of what Ashford would provide in Freeze’s offense. Thompson isn’t the dynamic athlete that Ashford is, but he’s a capable runner if needed and a much more developed passer. 

Although Thorne would be my preferred pairing because of his extra year of eligibility — in an ideal world he comes to Auburn and starts in 2023 and 2024 — both quarterbacks would raise the ceiling and floor of Auburn’s potential in 2023. They don’t solve the Tigers’ problem at receiver or address the team’s need for more pass rush help, but they would give Auburn its best trigger man since … Jarrett Stidham???

Thorne and Thompson have multiple seasons throwing for at least 17 touchdowns. Auburn hasn’t had a QB do that once since Stidham in 2018. 

Quarterbacks typically thrive in Hugh Freeze (and OC’s Philip Montgomery‘s) offense, and while that probably wasn’t going to be the case with Ashford or Finley, there’s a much stronger likelihood of that happening with Thorne or Thompson. 

Freeze simply has to make sure one of the two finds a home on the Plains. Auburn’s bowl hopes in 2023 depend on it.