Auburn‘s quarterback battle might have ended as expected, with Michigan State transfer Payton Thorne ultimately winning the job over incumbent starter Robby Ashford. But it sure was a difficult decision for coach Hugh Freeze.
Freeze opened up on his decision-making process, which was clouded by Ashford essentially being a “gamer.”
“I felt like Payton had the best leadership and command of the offense for most of fall camp,” Freeze explained. “Robby absolutely showed up more when the scrimmages took place, which made it more difficult and more challenging.”
Both have considerable production at the college level to lean on.
Thorne has thrown for 5,919 yards and 46 touchdowns over the last two seasons, against 21 interceptions. Ashford, meanwhile, threw for 1,613 yards with seven touchdowns and seven interceptions, but he also added 710 yards and seven touchdowns rushing.
That versatility means Ashford could still play a large role in the offense.
“I think it’s a good thing,” Freeze said. “I’ve said from Day 1 that I do believe Robby gives us help in winning football games. You just don’t find athletes like him everywhere. He’s special in that and so it did make it more difficult.”
The difficult decision, though, is in the books. Auburn will line up with Thorne as the starter unless he plays his way out of the job or Ashford simply forces his way into the role.
Freeze is sticking behind his decision.
“I do think that the right decision was made,” Freeze said. “I think Payton has the understanding and the leadership that our team needs as the starting quarterback right now, but also excited about the maturity of Robby and Holden (Geriner) both, also.”
Hugh Freeze opens up on UMass
With is difficult decision on the starting quarterback now in the rearview mirror, Freeze has been able to turn his attention fully toward UMass, the season-opening opponent.
But while it’s the season opener for Auburn, it’s not for UMass. UMass knocked off New Mexico State in Week 0. And Freeze saw some things he hadn’t seen before from the Minutemen.
“I thought they looked quite different and New Mexico State’s not an easy place to go play, and I thought they took care of the football,” Freeze said. “They didn’t turn it over, they got turnovers, they capitalized on turnovers, they threw the ball effectively, which they have not done in the four years that I played them, and I think defensively they play as hard as any team in the country and you combine that with Coach (Don) Brown’s system, which is very chaotic and very hard to identify for your offensive front at times, they will create negative plays with that.
“That was a big challenge for us last year when we played them up at UMass. They created a lot of negative plays against us. We managed to score enough points to win the game but it was a challenge. So, they have our full attention.”
Auburn and UMass will kick off at 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday with a broadcast on ESPN.
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