Auburn to begin Hank Brown over Payton Thorne at QB in Week 3 as Hugh Freeze seeks offensive spark

The transfer will give Freeze an extended take a look at an intriguing younger participant earlier than the stakes ratchet up with a go to from Arkansas in Week 4 to open SEC play. Brown has accomplished 10 of 14 passes for 228 yards with a pair of touchdowns and no interceptions over two profession appearances.

Brown was a three-star prospect within the Class of 2023 after starring underneath UAB coach and former Tremendous Bowl-winning quarterback Trent Dilfer at Lipscomb Academy in Nashville, Tennessee. Although ranked solely the No. 60 quarterback in his class by 247Sports, he is provided glimpses of potential since enrolling in the summertime of 2023.

He debuted in a lopsided Music Metropolis Bowl loss to Maryland final season, coming off the bench to finish 7 of 9 passes for 132 yards. In any other case, his solely recreation motion got here throughout a 73-3 blowout win over Alabama A&M on Aug. 31, when he accomplished 3 of 5 passes for 96 yards with a pair of touchdowns.

Taking part in New Mexico ought to supply Brown the possibility to construct confidence. The Lobos (0-2) surrendered 567 yards in a 35-31 Week 0 loss to FCS foe Montana State and gave up 627 yards in a 61-39 Week 1 loss to Arizona.

Freeze hinted earlier within the week {that a} quarterback change may very well be coming, saying that if Thorne continued to wrestle, “now we have to go in one other course.”

Thorne accomplished 61.1% of his passes with 16 touchdowns and 10 interceptions final season throughout his first 12 months with Auburn. However as a substitute of luring a switch to improve a pedestrian quarterback room, Freeze doubled down on the returners in his group getting into the 2024 season. That call backfired in opposition to Cal because the Tigers mustered simply 286 yards whereas falling at house.