The Auburn Tigers are gearing up for the new season with renewed optimism, strengthened by new offensive weapons and a confident quarterback in Payton Thorne.
“My confidence comes from the preparation that we’ve put in,” Thorne said. “I think it’s been a really good offseason.”
Thorne has spent the offseason getting acclimated to his new environment and teammates.
“I’m all settled into my house,” Thorne shared. “It’s nice to have gotten to know all my teammates and the coaches.”
Head Coach Hugh Freeze has shown strong support for Thorne.
“I’ve seen him play at a high level at a Power Five school,” Freeze said. “In year two with us, and with him sensing the chemistry in the offensive staff room, his confidence has grown. Most importantly, he feels confident that he has guys who can win.”
This season, Thorne will be working with new offensive talents like Perry Thompson and Cam Coleman.
“If you ever watched him throw, you’d see his athleticism,” Thorne said. “He can jump out of the gym and make catches that aren’t supposed to be made. They look the part—that’s what an SEC receiver should look like, and it’s what Auburn should always be recruiting in the South. They’re out there; you just have to get them.”
Freeze is optimistic about the new offense’s potential.
“I think we can be explosive,” Freeze remarked. “I believe we’re going to be able to run the ball, and that opens up a lot of things. You know, when you run the ball well, the RPO game becomes a part of the run.”
Thorne shares this confidence in the team’s potential.
“We’ve got a lot of guys who are really excited right now,” Thorne said. “It’s not just about proving people wrong—everyone wants to do that. I want to prove myself right, and I want our team to prove ourselves right.
“That we’re not just talking big like every team in the offseason saying, ‘Oh, we’ve got a chance this year, we’re going to be legit.’ I think we have a real shot at making things happen this year.”
As the season draws near, the Auburn Tigers are ready to showcase their new talents and prove their potential on the field.
On August 31, Alabama will face Western Kentucky at Bryant-Denny Stadium to kick off its 2024 season. For the first time in 17 years, the Tide will be without its legendary leader, Nick Saban, as Washington’s Kalen DeBoer takes the reins.
However, a “Freeze warning” may challenge DeBoer’s hopeful future as Hugh Freeze leads the Tigers into year two, reloading the team with new offensive firepower.
As both teams stand on the brink of a new era, the winds of change are sweeping through the SEC, with conference realignment and a 12-team playoff bringing excitement, uncertainty, and unpredictability to the college football landscape.
