With all the talk about what’s going on in the northwestern part of the state of Alabama, Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze would just as soon it stay that way.
At least, in the offseason.
Freeze, prepping for his second season as head coach for the Auburn Tigers, isn’t concerned right now about what the University of Alabama football program is doing in the wake of the retirement of coach Nick Saban. He’s got a full plate, trying to restore Auburn to its place as one of the best programs in the Southeastern Conference.
To do that, he’ll have to bring back a passing game that has fallen on woeful times. Auburn’s passing game averaged only 162 yards a game last year.
Auburn has added a new offensive coordinator, bringing in Derrick Nix from Ole Miss this season, and the Tigers plan to move upward from a 6-7 record in Freeze’s first year on the Plains (Auburn’s Freeze aims to revive fortunes, passing game with Payton Thorne leading QB competition).
Freeze said this week that Payton Thorne, the Michigan State transfer and incumbent starter, will keep that role, but it’s common knowledge in and around the program that Holden Geriner and Hank Brown are on his heels. Thorne certainly was not spectacular in 2023, throwing for just 1,755 yards, 16 touchdowns and 10 interceptions and rushing for 515 yards and three additional TDs.
The coach is hoping an influx of talent at wide receiver, both from transfers and from recruits, like signee Cam Coleman, who shined in the Auburn spring game, will be a huge help.
“I think he changes us,” Freeze said. “We need more. Just anxious to get the other signees here like Perry (Thompson) and Malcolm (Simmons) to join with that group. I am glad our fans got to see that. I’m quite sure that they were very excited to see that. He just tracks the ball and thinks every ball is catchable.”
Auburn opens the 2024 season at home against Alabama A&M on Saturday, Aug. 31, and then hosts Cal on Sept. 7.
