aubiefifty

so you think robby is better?just curious.you are not saying much other than than the you are not impressed stuff.

i am not sure if "they" have ever stopped hating us to be honest. many bama fans never stopped fearing auburn for a fact. i got friends that are scared of us every single iron bowl. and they will not afmit it iin public lol.

i would literally buy you a case and lunch just to hear some old auburn war stories.

wow what a great kid! sounds like you are raising a rawk star bird!.

auburnwire.usatoday.com Looking back at T.J. Finley's time at Auburn Taylor Jones 11–14 minutes The two-year Auburn career of quarterback T.J. Finley has officially come to a close, as he announced this week that he will enter the transfer portal as a graduate student once he receives his degree from Auburn University this upcoming weekend. Finley transferred to Auburn after spending his freshman season at LSU, where he appeared in five games during the 2020 season. As a Bayou Bengal, Finley completed 80-of-140 passes for 941 yards and five touchdowns. His best game in purple and gold was against South Carolina on Oct. 24, 2020, when he completed 81% of his passes for 265 yards and two touchdowns in LSU’s 52-24 win over the Gamecocks. Buy Tigers Tickets Finley played a major role in Auburn’s 2021 matchup with Georgia State, as he led the Tigers to a last-minute scoring drive to avoid a monumental upset to the Panthers. He also took over the starting quarterback role for the final three games of the 2021 season after starter Bo Nix suffered an ankle injury in Auburn’s 43-34 loss to Mississippi State. He assumed the role of starting quarterback for the 2022 season, beating out Oregon transfer Robby Ashford and true freshman Holden Geriner. He would start in the Tigers’ first three games, but a shoulder injury he suffered against Penn State would end his season. He concluded the 2022 season by passing for 431 yards and a touchdown with four interceptions. His Auburn career ends with 1,258 passing yards on 103-of-180 completions. As Finley begins to embark on a new journey, here’s a look back at some of the key moments of his career at Auburn. AU FB practice T.J. Finley throws in practice Tuesday. T.J. Finley throws in practice Tuesday. Auburn football practice on Tuesday, Aug. 10, 2021 in Auburn, Ala. Todd Van Emst/AU Athletics AU Football practice T.J. Finley T.J. Finley Auburn football practice on Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2021 in Auburn, Ala. Todd Van Emst/AU Athletics Syndication: The Montgomery Advertiser Auburn Tigers quarterback T.J. Finley (1) throws the ball during warm ups at Jordan-Hare Stadium in… Auburn Tigers quarterback T.J. Finley (1) throws the ball during warm ups at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala., on Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021. Syndication: The Montgomery Advertiser Auburn Tigers quarterback T.J. Finley (1) runs the ball at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala., on… Auburn Tigers quarterback T.J. Finley (1) runs the ball at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala., on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021. Auburn Tigers defeated Georgia State Panthers 34-24. Syndication: The Montgomery Advertiser Auburn Tigers quarterback T.J. Finley (1) gets a pass off as he falls forward at Jordan-Hare… Auburn Tigers quarterback T.J. Finley (1) gets a pass off as he falls forward at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala., on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021. Auburn Tigers defeated Georgia State Panthers 34-24. Auburn v Arkansas FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS - OCTOBER 16: T.J. Finley #1 and Bo Nix #10 of the Auburn Tigers… FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS - OCTOBER 16: T.J. Finley #1 and Bo Nix #10 of the Auburn Tigers bump together before a game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium on October 16, 2021 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) AU FB Scrimmage T.J. Finley (1) T.J. Finley (1) Auburn football scrimmage on Friday, Aug. 19, 2022 in Auburn, Ala. Todd Van Emst/AU Athletics Syndication: The Montgomery Advertiser Auburn Tigers quarterback T.J. Finley (1) celebrates with the fans after the game at Jordan-Hare Stadium… Auburn Tigers quarterback T.J. Finley (1) celebrates with the fans after the game at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala., on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021. Auburn Tigers defeated Georgia State Panthers 34-24. © Jake Crandall via Imagn Content Services, LLC Syndication: The Montgomery Advertiser Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Bryce Young (9) and Auburn Tigers quarterback T.J. Finley (1) shake hands… Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Bryce Young (9) and Auburn Tigers quarterback T.J. Finley (1) shake hands after the game during the Iron Bowl at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala., on Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021. Alabama Crimson Tide defeated Auburn Tigers 24-22 in 4OT. Syndication: The Montgomery Advertiser Auburn Tigers quarterback T.J. Finley (1) greets in the Tiger Walk before the Birmingham Bowl at… Auburn Tigers quarterback T.J. Finley (1) greets in the Tiger Walk before the Birmingham Bowl at Protective Stadium in Birmingham, Ala., on Tuesday December 28, 2021. © Jake Crandall / USA TODAY NETWORK Syndication: The Montgomery Advertiser Auburn Tigers quarterback T.J. Finley (1) passes against Houston during the Birmingham Bowl at Protective Stadium… Auburn Tigers quarterback T.J. Finley (1) passes against Houston during the Birmingham Bowl at Protective Stadium in Birmingham, Ala., on Tuesday December 28, 2021. Bham06 Syndication: The Montgomery Advertiser Auburn Tigers quarterback T.J. Finley (1) looks on during the Birmingham Bowl at Protective Stadium in… Auburn Tigers quarterback T.J. Finley (1) looks on during the Birmingham Bowl at Protective Stadium in Birmingham, Ala., on Tuesday December 28, 2021. © Jake Crandall / USA TODAY NETWORK T.J. Finley Auburn quarterback T.J. Finley (1) warms up during the A-Day NCAA college spring football game at… Auburn quarterback T.J. Finley (1) warms up during the A-Day NCAA college spring football game at Jordan-Hare Stadium, Saturday, April 9, 2022, in Auburn, Alabama. AP Photo/Butch Dill Syndication: The Montgomery Advertiser Auburn Tigers quarterback T.J. Finley (1) warms up during the A-Day spring practice at Jordan-Hare Stadium… Auburn Tigers quarterback T.J. Finley (1) warms up during the A-Day spring practice at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala., on Saturday, April 9, 2022. AU FB scrimmage T.J. Finley (1) T.J. Finley (1) Auburn FB scrimmage on Saturday, April 2, 2022 in Auburn, Ala. Todd Van Emst/AU Athletics Mercer v Auburn AUBURN, ALABAMA - SEPTEMBER 03: Quarterback T.J. Finley #1 of the Auburn Tigers looks to throw… AUBURN, ALABAMA - SEPTEMBER 03: Quarterback T.J. Finley #1 of the Auburn Tigers looks to throw the ball behind offensive lineman Brandon Council #71 of the Auburn Tigers during the first half of play of their game against the Mercer Bears at Jordan-Hare Stadium on September 03, 2022 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images) San Jose St Auburn Football Auburn quarterback T.J. Finley warms up for the team's NCAA college football game against San Jose… Auburn quarterback T.J. Finley warms up for the team's NCAA college football game against San Jose State on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill) Syndication: The Montgomery Advertiser Auburn Tigers quarterback T.J. Finley (1) celebrates his touchdown run as Auburn Tigers take on San… Auburn Tigers quarterback T.J. Finley (1) celebrates his touchdown run as Auburn Tigers take on San Jose State Spartans at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala., on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022. Syndication: The Montgomery Advertiser Auburn Tigers quarterback T.J. Finley (1) throws the ball as Auburn Tigers take on San Jose… Auburn Tigers quarterback T.J. Finley (1) throws the ball as Auburn Tigers take on San Jose State Spartans at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala., on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022. San Jose State Spartans lead Auburn Tigers 10-7 at halftime. T.J. Finley Auburn quarterback T.J. Finley warms up before an NCAA college football game against Mercer Saturday, Sept.… Auburn quarterback T.J. Finley warms up before an NCAA college football game against Mercer Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill) FTBL: FOOTBALL Sep 17, 2022; Auburn, Al, USA; T.J. Finley (1) at the Tiger Walk before the game… Sep 17, 2022; Auburn, Al, USA; T.J. Finley (1) at the Tiger Walk before the game between Auburn and Penn State at Jordan Hare Stadium . Austin Perryman/AU Athletics Penn St Auburn Football Auburn quarterback T.J. Finley warms up before an NCAA college football game against Penn State, Saturday,… Auburn quarterback T.J. Finley warms up before an NCAA college football game against Penn State, Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill) Penn St Auburn Football Auburn quarterback T.J. Finley (1) rolls out to pass during the first half of an NCAA… Auburn quarterback T.J. Finley (1) rolls out to pass during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Penn State, Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill) Penn State v Auburn AUBURN, ALABAMA - SEPTEMBER 17: Quarterback T.J. Finley #1 of the Auburn Tigers scrambles and escapes… AUBURN, ALABAMA - SEPTEMBER 17: Quarterback T.J. Finley #1 of the Auburn Tigers scrambles and escapes a tackle by linebacker Dominic DeLuca #34 of the Penn State Nittany Lions during the first half of play at Jordan-Hare Stadium on September 17, 2022 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images) Syndication: The Montgomery Advertiser Auburn Tigers quarterback T.J. Finley (1) is upended by Penn State Nittany Lions defensive back Johnny… Auburn Tigers quarterback T.J. Finley (1) is upended by Penn State Nittany Lions defensive back Johnny Dixon (3) as the Auburn Tigers take on the Penn State Nittany Lions at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala., on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022. © Jake Crandall / Advertiser / USA TODAY NETWORK Penn State v Auburn AUBURN, ALABAMA - SEPTEMBER 17: Quarterback T.J. Finley #1 of the Auburn Tigers jumps after a… AUBURN, ALABAMA - SEPTEMBER 17: Quarterback T.J. Finley #1 of the Auburn Tigers jumps after a live ball in front of defensive end Adisa Isaac #20 of the Penn State Nittany Lions during the first half of play at Jordan-Hare Stadium on September 17, 2022 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images) Syndication: The Montgomery Advertiser Auburn Tigers quarterback T.J. Finley (1) walks the field before the Auburn Tigers take on the… Auburn Tigers quarterback T.J. Finley (1) walks the field before the Auburn Tigers take on the Arkansas Razorbacks at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala., on Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022. Syndication: The Montgomery Advertiser Auburn Tigers quarterback T.J. Finley (1) warms up before Auburn Tigers take on Arkansas Razorbacks at… Auburn Tigers quarterback T.J. Finley (1) warms up before Auburn Tigers take on Arkansas Razorbacks at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala., on Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022. Syndication: The Montgomery Advertiser Auburn Tigers quarterback T.J. Finley (1) throws the ball during Auburn Tigers Pro Day at Woltosz… Auburn Tigers quarterback T.J. Finley (1) throws the ball during Auburn Tigers Pro Day at Woltosz Football Performance Center in Auburn, Ala., on Tuesday, March 21, 2023. Syndication: The Montgomery Advertiser Auburn Tigers quarterback T.J. Finley (1) warms up during the A-Day spring football game at Jordan-Hare… Auburn Tigers quarterback T.J. Finley (1) warms up during the A-Day spring football game at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala., on Saturday, April 8, 2023.

flywareagle.com Incoming Auburn football freshman QB sends strong message on teammates: ‘Blessing’ to get feedback Andrew Hughes 2–3 minutes Incoming Auburn football quarterback Hank Brown sent a strong message about learning from his fellow Tigers signal-callers Mandatory Credit: The Tennessean Incoming Auburn football quarterback Hank Brown, a former Liberty commit who Hugh Freeze flipped to the Tigers following his own move to the Plains, is excited to join his fellow quarterbacks — saying that it’ll be a “blessing” to learn from the players already in the room. “It was really awesome to see how three or four different quarterback guys are able to help us,” Brown told Jason Caldwell of Auburn Undercover. “They all have different strengths, so it’s going to be such a blessing to be able to get feedback from them at all times. Being able to work with them and help me get through the playbook and working with my mechanics, it’s going to be awesome.” The Lipscomb Academy product told Caldwell he was excited to finally get on campus and show the new coaching staff what he is capable of. “It’s definitely more motivation just for me to be ready,” Brown prefaced before saying, “When that time comes, to be able to compete with them, I’m super excited. I’m going to do whatever I can to help out.” Hank Brown expected to redshirt with Auburn football in 2023 Though it’s unclear if Brown will have Robby Ashford, Holden Geriner, and T.J. Finley — the latter of whom is seemingly waiting to graduate before entering the transfer portal due to a perceived disrespect from Freeze wanting to add another portal QB — in front of him on the depth chart come summer, the Nashville native is expected to take a redshirt regardless according to Auburn Wire’s Taylor Jones. “Hank Brown will be the youngest QB in the room heading into the fall after signing with the Tigers 2023 recruiting class,” Jones said. “No matter if Ashford wins the battle, or Freeze elects to bring in a transfer during the May 1-15 transfer portal window, I see Brown redshirting this season and using this time to better his craft under his new head coach.”

Fired former Auburn head coach catches stray from analyst Andrew Hughes ~3 minutes Fired former Auburn football head coach Bryan Harsin caught a stray from OutKick's Glenn Guilbeau while talking about the Tigers' QB situation Mandatory Credit: The Montgomery Advertiser As OutKick’s Glenn Guilbeau was addressing Payton Thorne’s commitment to the Auburn football program, Bryan Harsin came up — and Guilbeau didn’t take it easy on the fired former Tigers head coach, calling the quarterback situation he left behind for new head coach Hugh Freeze a “disaster.” “First-year coach Hugh Freeze basically did not have a real starting quarterback after replacing the disaster that was coach Bryan Harsin following the 2022 season,” Guilbeau said. The OutKick writer’s comments can be read as a direct shot to incumbent starter Robby Ashford and redshirt second-year signal-caller Holden Geriner, though going through a coaching transition in each’s first year on the Plains certainly makes things more difficult for everyone. Analyst suggests Auburn football landed Payton Thorne with NIL offer Guilbeau seemed to suggest that the Auburn football brain trust offered the Michigan State transfer Thorne a lucrative NIL offer to lock in the graduate transfer, which is certainly a possibility in this current iteration of college football free agency. “Freeze had been looking for someone like Thorne for some time, and Thorne likely would have remained the starter had he stayed at Michigan State,” Guilbeau wrote. “And Thorne did not enter the portal until last Sunday – the last day to do so. Perhaps a lucrative Name, Image & Likeness deal happened.” Thorne comes to the Plains having seen a sharp descent from the near-top of the Big Ten to the bottom half of the conference in his last two seasons at Michigan State, and he now has the chance to help lead a more passionate fanbase in the opposite direction under a new head coach looking to prove himself. Freeze had told anyone that would listen that not just any transfer was going to join his first Tigers team on the staff, and he similarly said he wouldn’t just hand anyone the job. Still, with Ashford, Geriner, and the recently transferred TJ Finley not showing capable of grasping the starting role, Thorne appears to be a lock to lead Freeze and Philip Montgomery’s offense out on Pat Dye Field on September 2.

Cam Newton: ‘You’re scaring people with how you look’ Published: May. 05, 2023, 2:30 p.m. 4–5 minutes Former NFL quarterback Cam Newton visits the Auburn facilities during the football program’s pro day on March 21, 2023, in Auburn.(AP Photo/Butch Dill) By Mark Inabinett | minabinett@al.com Former NFL MVP Cam Newton said he has had contact with teams about returning to the NFL this year after not playing during the 2022 season. Newton wants the opportunity to compete for a starting spot at quarterback and has stated he doesn’t think there are 32 quarterbacks better than he is. He also has announced a list of quarterbacks that he’d be fine backing up if a starting opportunity is not available. MORE NFL: · TITANS’ ROGER MCCREARY WILLING TO SACRIFICE BAKED BEANS TO IMPROVE · TITANS’ TOP PICK: ‘IT’S GOING TO BE AN HONOR TO BLOCK FOR DERRICK HENRY’ · EAGLES THINK TYLER STEEN CAN CHANGE POSITIONS During an appearance on “Undefined with Josina Anderson” this week, Newton was asked if his appearance, particularly his hair, was keeping him from getting an NFL opportunity. “It’s been a hinderance,” Newton said, “and I’m not changing. This is one thing I do understand about my stance, especially with the NFL. It’s such a prestigious brotherhood, fraternity. Whether I go back or not, I always can be able to say I did it at a high level. Where I’m at right now in my life, do I need the NFL? No. Does the NFL need me? Hell no. I think that understanding is the reason why I’m able to kind of just be fine. “But, yeah, people have hinted towards to say, ‘Cam, we want you to go back to the 2015 clean-cut Cam.’ But that was a different me. Like right now, where I’m at is really embracing who I am, right?” Newton said he didn’t think his hair would be the reason if he did not get another chance in the NFL. “I gained a lot of great counsel from a lot of people,” Newton said. “And the thing that is always mentioned is: Cam, you’re scaring people with how you look. And I would say -- I’m not going to name names -- but there’s other quarterbacks in the league that don’t look like me, but they got long hair. They don’t scare them, do they? We can go tit for tat and tat for tit with it, but I would just turn an eye to that and say, ‘Look, that’s not the reason why I’m not in the NFL.’ “I hope I’m not being blackballed for that, but I don’t think that’s the situation. I’m at a situation where I’m not getting no younger. There’s guys that are cheaper than me that probably have a step up on me. It’s discretionary. But I’m in a good space. They can think what they want, but the reality of it is: Who knows? My hair is deeply rooted in my culture and the people who look like me, and I’ve always wanted to impact and empower my community first.” Newton won the Heisman Trophy in 2010, when Auburn captured the BCS national championship to cap an unbeaten season. The first pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, Newton helped the Carolina Panthers win six NFC South titles over the next nine seasons while becoming the franchise’s all-time passing leader, setting the league record for touchdowns scored by a quarterback and winning the 2015 NFL Most Valuable Player Award. But Newton hasn’t thrown a pass in an NFL game since Dec. 26, 2021 and wasn’t on a team during the 2022 season. “I have spoken with some teams,” Newton said, “and it was kind of the same sentiment: We’re going to see after the draft.” The 2023 NFL Draft was held April 27-29, and 14 quarterbacks were chosen. FOR MORE OF AL.COM’S COVERAGE OF THE NFL, GO TO OUR NFL PAGE Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.

whnt.com Michigan State QB transfer commits to Auburn Josiah Elmore ~2 minutes Michigan State quarterback Payton Thorne (10) plays against Purdue during the second half of an NCAA college football game in West Lafayette, Ind., Saturday,… Michigan State quarterback Payton Thorne (10) plays against Purdue during the second half of an NCAA college football game in West Lafayette, Ind., Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021. Purdue defeated Michigan State 40-29. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy) by: Josiah Elmore Posted: May 5, 2023 / 01:01 PM CDT Updated: May 5, 2023 / 01:01 PM CDT AUBURN, Ala. (WHNT) – Hugh Freeze and the Auburn Tigers have landed a former Power Five starting quarterback in the transfer portal. Former Michigan State quarterback Payton Thorne announced Friday that he would be transferring to the Plains. Thorne spent three seasons with the Spartans appearing in 29 games. He has thrown for 6,493 yards, 49 touchdowns and 24 interceptions during his career. Thorne has also rushed for six touchdowns in his career. Thorne was the captain for the Spartans the last two years and a three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection. He has two years of eligibility remaining. He joins the Auburn quarterback room just days after TJ Finley announced he would enter the transfer portal amid a quarterback battle with Robby Ashford and Holden Geriner.

Auburn Lands Ex-Michigan State Quarterback Payton Thorne - WAKA 8 WAKA 8, 2–3 minutes Posted: May 5, 2023 3:55 PM CDT by WAKA 8 FILE – Michigan State quarterback Payton Thorne (10) looks to pass the ball during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Illinois, Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Matt Marton, File) Former Michigan State quarterback Payton Thorne is headed to Auburn. Auburn announced the signing of the two-year starter on Friday, giving new coach Hugh Freeze an experienced quarterback to boost a passing game that ranked among the nation’s worst last season. Thorne went 16-10 as a starter for the Spartans. He has thrown for 6,494 yards with 49 touchdowns against 24 interceptions. Spartans coach Mel Tucker had said this spring that the two-time team captain was part of an open competition to take the first snap next season. Thorne ranks fourth in career touchdown passes at Michigan State, fifth in completion percentage (61) and sixth in passing yards. He started all 12 games last season, passing for 2,679 yards with 19 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. The fifth-year senior, who has two years of eligibility remaining, led Michigan State to a Peach Bowl victory. Auburn returns Robby Ashford, who started much of last season after transferring from Oregon, and redshirt freshman Holden Geriner. Onetime starter T.J. Finley has announced his plans to transfer. Tigers quarterbacks combined for just nine passing touchdowns last season while ranking 119th in passing yards per game, averaging 173. Ashford proved a running threat while completing just 49% of his passes. Geriner played briefly in only one game as a freshman. Freshman Hank Brown, whom Freeze recruited at Liberty, is also set to join the mix. (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

3 golfers with Auburn, UAB ties advance to final U.S. Open qualifying Published: May. 05, 2023, 1:41 p.m. Michael Johnson, shown in 2016 while playing at Auburn, finished first in local qualifying for the 2023 U.S. Open on Thursday at Silver Lakes in Glencoe. (Dakota Sumpter/Auburn Athletics) By Creg Stephenson | cstephenson@al.com Former Auburn golfer Michael Johnson, ex-UAB golfer Sam Love and current Auburn golfer Reed Lotter were among four who advanced to final qualifying for the 123rd U.S. Open on Thursday. In local qualifying at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Silver Lakes in Glencoe, Johnson shot 5-under 67 to tie for first with Scott Stephens of Chattanooga, Tenn. Lotter — an Auburn freshman from Savannah, Ga., playing as an amateur — was one stroke back at 4-under-68, while Love shot 3-under 69 to take the last of four qualifying spots. Johnson, Stephens, Lotter and Love now advance to final U.S. Open qualifying, which takes place later this month and in early June. There are several sites for final qualifying, with participants allowed to rank them in order of preference. Johnson, a Birmingham native who played his high school golf at Spain Park, was a first-team All-American and Ben Hogan Award finalist at Auburn in 2016. He currently plays on the Korn Ferry Tour. Love, from Trussville, has played on both the Korn Ferry and MacKenzie Tours in the past. He played in the 2014 U.S. Open at Pinehurst, but failed to make the cut. The 123rd U.S. Open takes place June 15-18 at the Los Angeles Country Club. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation.

What the addition of Michigan State transfer QB Payton Thorne means for Auburn Updated: May. 05, 2023, 2:12 p.m.|Published: May. 05, 2023, 1:50 p.m. 6–8 minutes Hugh Freeze has been waiting for this moment, patiently, since arriving at Auburn at the end of last season. The first-year coach, in his return to the SEC, has been in search of a quarterback who he felt would be the right fit for what Freeze wanted to accomplish offensively at Auburn with offensive coordinator Philip Montgomery. Auburn sought out a quarterback during the first transfer portal period in December and January, but the Tigers came up emptyhanded despite overtures to the likes of Coastal Carolina’s Grayson McCall and NC State-turned-Kentucky quarterback Devin Leary. So, Auburn went through spring with a trio of returning options competing for the starting quarterback job: Robby Ashford, T.J. Finley and Holden Geriner. Read more Auburn football: Who’s out, who’s in? Breaking down Auburn’s post-spring roster movement What T.J. Finley’s decision to transfer means for Auburn at quarterback Auburn’s recruiting under Hugh Freeze is “100 to 1″ change from previous coaching staff Even as Freeze felt “better” about the state of the quarterback room after A-Day, he still wanted to find a “no-brainer” target to pursue on the transfer market and compete for the starting job. On Friday, he finally got that following a relatively quick pursuit. Michigan State transfer Payton Thorne, a multiyear starter for the Spartans who has two years of eligibility remaining, committed to Auburn shortly after noon. The Tigers finally got their transfer quarterback, as the outlook of the position heading into year one under Freeze became a bit clearer. Thorne entered the transfer portal Sunday, the final day of the post-spring period, and Auburn quickly worked to make inroads with the veteran Big Ten signal-caller. By Thursday, Thorne penned a farewell to Michigan State, as chatter began to pick up that Auburn was the favorite to land his services — with it seemingly being a matter of when, not if Freeze and Co. would land their top target in the portal. Thorne wasted little time in making a decision, announcing his commitment and signing with the Tigers on Friday, instantly altering the landscape of Auburn’s quarterback room. On paper, he 6-foot-2, 210-pounder is a clear upgrade for the Tigers in several regards and should be considered the favorite to win the starting job in fall camp. He’s a 60.9 percent career passer who has thrown for 6,494 yards and 49 touchdowns across 29 games, with 26 of those being starts for the Spartans. That includes all 25 games the last two seasons for Michigan State, a span during which he threw 46 touchdowns and 21 interceptions while completing 61.5 percent of his passes for 5,911 yards. Thorne had his most efficient season last year, even as Michigan State took a step back under Mel Tucker. He completed a career-best 62.5 percent of his passes, which is markedly better than the 49.2 percent rate Ashford had last season for the Tigers. Freeze stressed throughout the spring that two of the most important traits he was looking for from Auburn’s quarterbacks were pocket presence and decision making — understanding situational football and limiting mistakes — and while the trio who went through spring made strides in those regards, Thorne seemingly checks those boxes off the bat. Along with being a more efficient and polished passer than Auburn’s returning quarterback candidates, Thorne brings more experience to the table. For both Ashford and Geriner, last season was their first on-field experience at the college level; Ashford didn’t see the field at Oregon before transferring to Auburn, while Geriner was a true freshman and only played a handful of snaps while redshirting. Thorne, meanwhile, brings a wealth of experience—all of which has come at the Power 5 level in the second-best conference in FBS, the Big Ten. A former three-star recruit who signed with Michigan State in 2019, Thorne redshirted during his first season with the Spartans before making his debut during the pandemic-impacted 2020 campaign. He appeared in four games that season while primarily backing up Rocky Lombardi in year one of the Tucker Era, though he made his first career start in the Spartans’ season finale against Penn State. Thorne threw for 325 yards, a trio of touchdowns and one interception in a loss, but it provided a glimpse of what was to come the next two seasons. As Michigan State’s starter in 2021, Thorne led the Spartans to an 11-2 record while passing for 3,232 yards (23rd among FBS passers), 27 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, averaging 8.3 yards per pass attempt (35th nationally) while completing 60.4 percent of his attempts. For reference, those are numbers that haven’t been seen from an Auburn quarterback since Jarrett Stidham in 2017, when the former Baylor transfer threw for 3,158 yards and 18 touchdowns while completing 66.5 percent of his passes and averaging 8.5 yards per attempt. Thorne followed up that breakthrough 2021 campaign as a starter with a solid 2022, even as the program struggled through a 5-7 campaign. He threw for 2,679 yards, 19 touchdowns and 11 interceptions with a 62.5 percent completion rate despite playing in an offense that lacked a true rushing threat, as the Spartans were 111th nationally in rushing yards (113 per game) and 89th in yards per carry (3.76). Still, Thorne’s numbers were considerably better than any of Auburn’s quarterbacks during a disastrous 2022 campaign, and now he’ll enter the fray for an offense that has one of the stronger running back rooms in the SEC, led by Jarquez Hunter. With Thorne’s vast starting experience also comes a share of big-game exposure — seven games against ranked opponents the last two seasons — as well as a leadership aspect. Thorne was a two-time captain at Michigan State. That’s something that, while not the most important factor, should be taken into consideration for an Auburn team that is looking to establish a new culture under Freeze and a new coaching staff. Thorne certainly seems to fit the description of a “no-brainer” transfer quarterback for Auburn, and while he’ll still have to stave off Ashford (who made note of the pickup Friday and appeared motivated by it) and Geriner for the starting job come August, he’s the type of addition who should raise the ceiling on Auburn’s expectations in year one of the Freeze era. Tom Green is an Auburn beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Tomas_Verde.

well so many people on here claim ON3 is legit i thought there was not problem. i am trying to help the board and getting kicked in the teeth for it.

ha! i had forgotten that. i believe i could have out run him back then..........grins.

do they state that? sorry for double posts but i just did not see it stated as such.

ok thanks for sharing that. i remember the red arrow trending down but it did not hit me what it was for.that kind of disappoints me because i would love to know the realmoney athletes get. one day you will make real reporter out of me. again i appreciate the help as i do not want to post any untruths or that sort or thing. i owe you a gummy...............and they are fire. i cannot drive on them. and legal.

NIL TOP 100 On3 listed these to give us an idea of what some players receive in the NIL Auburn has five in the top one hundred it appears. i had to type these by hand so if you want to see the whole list go visit ON3's site. Rank 12 Sunisa Lee 1.3 mil Rank 47 Jarquez Hunter 747 K Rank 261 D J James 248 K Rank 300 Gunner Brittain 223 k Rank 338 Justim Rogers 203K Rank 8 Bo Nix is number 1.5 mil

auburn.rivals.com AuburnSports - Portal target profile: Payton Thorne Caleb Jones AuburnSports Portal target profile: Payton Thorne 11h ago 2–3 minutes In the last four or five days, Auburn's quarterback situation has evolved even further. T.J. Finley announced he's transferring out of the program, Nebraska's Casey Thompson was on campus and perhaps the biggest news, a new name entered the conversation. Michigan State's Payton Thorne entered the transfer portal Sunday, quickly becoming a name to watch as Auburn targets a portal quarterback. Who is Thorne? What's he accomplished? Let's take a look at the quarterback's resume. Originally from Naperville, Illinois, Thorne was rated as a three-star quarterback who spent over seven months committed to Western Michigan. However, on early signing day, he flipped to Michigan State and signed on with the Spartans as a member of their 2019 recruiting class. As a true freshman, Thorne did not make an appearance in a game and opted to redshirt for the season. The following season, he made three appearances off the bench and started one game, the season finale against Penn State. He went 22-for-39 with 325 yards passing, three touchdowns and had one pass intercepted in a 39-24 loss. In 2021, Thorne won the starting job and led the Spartans to their highest win total in six years, winning 11 games as the starter. His completion percentage for the season was just over 60%, as he threw for a Michigan State single-season record 27 touchdowns and had 10 passes intercepted. Thorne also had 3,240 yards passing that year with a PFF grade of 77.6. It's worth mentioning that Auburn has not had a quarterback throw for over 3,000 yards in a season since Jarrett Stidham did in 2017. Thorne failed to duplicate his success in 2022, as his numbers dropped off from the previous season. He threw for 19 touchdowns and had 11 passes intercepted, while failing to reach the 3,000 yards passing mark. Nonetheless, he still recorded over 2,600 yards passing and saw his completion rate reach an all-time high of 62.5% with a PFF grade still in the 70s, at 71.8. Auburn will have at least three scholarship quarterbacks on its roster in the fall, but the idea is to add a fourth from the portal. Right now, Thompson and Thorne appear to be the frontrunners.

Auburn football analyst gives Tigers sky-high 2023 expectations with caveat Andrew Hughes 2–3 minutes Auburn Daily's Matthew Jacobs has sky-high expectations for the upcoming 2023 Auburn football season -- with a caveat, however Mandatory Credit: The Montgomery Advertiser The 2023 Auburn football season can be one that sees the Tigers contend for the 2023 SEC West title according to Auburn Daily’s Matthew Jacobs — though, it should be noted, there is a notable caveat. Jacobs believes that with the right quarterback under center, AU is at a 10-win ceiling, but the wrong quarterback (aka Robby Ashford or Holden Geriner) would struggle to make the Tigers bowl eligible. “With a good quarterback I put Auburn at 10-2,” Jacobs prefaced before saying, “If the quarterback role falls to someone currently on the team, I think 6-7 wins will be tough to aspire to.” Payton Thorne looking like the next Auburn football transfer portal quarterback Since the 2021 season, which was the first of the NIL and post-COVID era, the transfer portal has been a massive source of an immediate talent influx for programs across the country. For Auburn football, the quarterback position has seen an influx of talent every season, with T.J. Finley coming in 2021 and Ashford and Zach Calzada making their way to the Plains in January 2022. By that same token, it’s been an out for many, with Bo Nix, Dematrius Davis, Trey Lindsay, Calzada, and Finley all utilizing the transfer portal to abandoned East Central Alabama. In the 2023 transfer cycle, there’s been a subtraction, and more than likely, there will be an addition. According to the ESPN College Football transfer portal Twitter account, Michigan State quarterback Payton Thorne will be that addition. Sources tell me that Michigan State transfer QB, Payton Thorne, is heading to Auburn. Announcement coming soon @payton15thorne pic.twitter.com/cuZ9CYM5pN — College Transfer Portal (@CollegeFBPortal) May 3, 2023 With Nebraska transfer Casey Thompson as his main competition, Thorne was seemingly billed the best fit by first-year head coach Hugh Freeze — who was unwilling to hand the starting job to anyone and may still be. Thorne may need to beat out Ashford and Geriner, but if he does, perhaps the Tigers would move closer to Jacobs’ projection.