Hugh Freeze declared Payton Thorne the winner of the starting quarterback position for Auburn on Thursday.

Thorne, a transfer from Michigan State, defeated Robby Ashford to start for the Tigers against UMass on September 2.

Freeze said that Thorne, a two-year starter for the Spartans, won the job at Auburn after arriving on campus in June due in large part to his leadership and effective passing.

“The reason that Payton is getting the nod is the leadership ability and the understanding of the offense,” Freeze said. “He’s been in some really good battles. He’s been more efficient in the decision-making to this point.”

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Prior to the game, according to Freeze, Thorne would practise mostly with the starting lineup, while Ashford would work primarily with the second team. However, redshirt freshman Holden Geriner would also practise with the second squad.

Actually, Holden is the most natural passer of the group, according to Freeze.

Ashford, Freeze continued, “will always have a package [in the offence] if he handles this the right way.”

The majority of last season’s games were started by Ashford, who left Oregon after the 2021 season and participated in all 12. He is an explosive runner who gained 710 yards and scored seven touchdowns on the ground but only scored seven scores and threw seven interceptions while passing. He will continue to fight for playing time and might eventually win back the starting position.

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In his first season as the Tigers’ coach, Freeze made strengthening the passing game a top focus. Auburn was 119th nationally in passing offence last season (172.7 YPG).

Thorne, who is starting his fifth season of collegiate football, had his greatest year at Michigan State in 2021, guiding the Spartans to 11 victories in Mel Tucker’s first season as head coach while passing for 3,240 yards and 27 touchdowns. Following spring practise earlier in the season, Thorne submitted his name into the transfer site. He and sophomore Noah Kim were vying for the starting position at Michigan State.

The last few years have seen quarterback turnover at Auburn. Bo Nix, now a Heisman Trophy contender at Oregon, started for Auburn from 2019 to 2021. However, in 2021, he was momentarily benched before coming back to start the season. After having his season cut short by an ankle injury, he left Auburn and joined the Ducks. TJ Finley, who began his career at LSU, was Auburn’s starter to open the 2022 season before giving way to Ashford. Finley has since transferred to Texas State.