Payton Thorne's job to lose, Hugh Freeze details the QB competition as spring camp begins

AUBURN -- Hugh Freeze didn't mince words on Thursday. The QB1 position is Payton Thorne's to lose, but that's to be expected. Thorne passed for 1,755 yards, 16 touchdowns and 10 picks last season. He added 515 rushing yards and three more scores. Entering his fifth season of college football, Thorne might be out front now, but it doesn't mean there isn't pressure hold onto the position with young talent developing behind him. "Let me be clear: I think Payton has done an incredible job since January of taking a leadership role and setting the standard. Do I think it’s his to lose? Yes. He has to go earn it every day. We’re not in the position that it’s given to somebody. We’re changing our whole verbiage, our whole system back to what I’m comfortable with and I need to see who has the best grasp on that," Freeze said. More from Freeze on the QB battle heading into the spring and what his expectations are...