Auburn QB Robby Ashford enters NCAA Transfer Portal

AUBURN — Redshirt sophomore quarterback Robby Ashford plans to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal. Ashford confirmed his plans with Auburn Live.

The portal officially opens on December 4 and closes on January 3. Players simply have to enter the portal by January 3 to be eligible to transfer elsewhere. They can make their decision whenever they’d like after entering the portal.

Career production: Ashford threw for 1,758 yards and rushed for 927 yards in his two seasons at Auburn after transferring from Oregon. He threw nine touchdowns and nine interceptions, while rushing for 12 touchdowns.

Prospect history: Ashford is a former 4-star prospect from Hoover, Ala. The On3 Sports Consensus player rankings placed Ashford as the No. 318 overall prospect, No. 23 quarterback and No. 14 player in Alabama in the 2020 class.

JOIN THE BOOMING AUBURN LIVE COMMUNITY TODAY FOR $1

What does Ashford’s departure mean?

Ashford provided Auburn’s offense a different dimension the last three seasons with his running ability, but never found consistency in the passing game. Of note, Ashford helped Auburn beat Texas A&M in 2022 and scored a rushing touchdown against Georgia in 2023, aiding in Auburn’s near-upset bid. Ashford played through injuries during the 2022 season, still rushing for 100+ yards and two touchdowns against both Mississippi State and Alabama to end the season. Ashford was the change-of-pace quarterback this fall, rotating with Payton Thorne. He never passed more than six times and never rushed more than nine times in a game during the 2023 season. Ashford is an elite athlete that should find a program that needs his potential. Auburn will move forward with Thorne, Holden Geriner, freshman Hank Brown, and incoming freshman Walker White.

Impact of Ashford’s departure? Minimal.

Hugh Freeze opines on handling the transfer portal

What will Auburn’s roster look like next season? How many players will Freeze and co. sign in the 2024 class? The transfer portal? Freeze still isn’t sure how it will all play out.

“I don’t think there’s any possible way any coach can sit here and tell you how he’s going to come up with his 85. I’d love to sit here and tell you we’re going to build it with high school kids…I’d love to say that, but this week if I have 10 guys walk in and say they’re going to transfer and I haven’t been recruiting enough high school kids, it’s impossible to say that. I have no idea how the makeup of the 85 will look in what we have to replace. Do we have to replace just 22? Do we have to replace 32? None of us know. I think that’s become the biggest challenge for us coaches is how do we even manage the 85.

Track the latest NCAA Transfer Portal happenings

“It will take you all the way through spring and summer to figure that out because of the way the portal windows are set up. I think it’s absolutely ridiculous that this portal window we’re getting ready to have is as long as it is. It makes no sense. We have to go through Christmas worrying about people tampering with players on your team. Either they know they are going or they’re not. Give them December 1 through the 10th, make your decision and move on. This idea of this long portal window, it wasn’t made by anybody having to live it, I can assure you.”

And on the topic of re-recruiting your own roster, how will Freeze handle those conversations?

“Only way I know how to be is totally transparent. Tell them the truth. The truth for some is your chances to play here are probably slim. The truth for others is there’s an element of patience that needs to be involved in your decision. If you could just be patient and not listen to the voices that want immediate gratification or certainly, you have the money aspect that’s involved in all of this now. You should choose the place and the culture and environment that’s going to shape you for the long term, the long haul. I think everything is better when you are in that environment yourself. Some need to have patience and other discussions will be truthful with how we see you fitting into this roster.”