Auburn quarterback Hank Brown has decided to part ways with the Tigers, officially entering the transfer portal according to ESPN. This marks a significant shift after Brown initially denied earlier rumors about his potential transfer on social media. Just a week later, he reversed course, becoming the 11th Auburn player to announce their intention to leave the program following the conclusion of the 2024 season.
Hailing from Nashville, Tennessee, the 6-foot-4, 208-pound Brown redshirted during the 2023 season but made his debut in Auburn’s Music City Bowl loss to Maryland. Despite the team’s struggles, Brown’s performance stood out as a rare bright spot. He completed 7 of 9 passes for 132 yards, showcasing his potential under challenging circumstances.
Brown began the 2024 season as Auburn’s second-string quarterback, backing up Payton Thorne. Head coach Hugh Freeze, who had recruited Brown to Auburn after initially securing his commitment at Liberty, entrusted the young quarterback with the starting role after Thorne’s underwhelming performance against Cal. Brown capitalized on this opportunity, delivering a solid performance against New Mexico by completing 17 of 25 passes for 235 yards and four touchdowns. However, his momentum faltered the following week against Arkansas, where three interceptions led to his benching in favor of Thorne. Afterward, Brown’s only appearance came during Auburn’s road loss to Missouri, and he spent the remainder of the season on the sidelines.
As a recruit, Brown was a three-star prospect ranked No. 1,447 nationally and the No. 71 quarterback in the class of 2023 by 247Sports. He flipped his commitment from Liberty to Auburn on December 20, 2022, following Freeze’s move to take over as Auburn’s head coach. Across his two seasons with the Tigers, Brown appeared in five games, starting two. He completed 34 of 52 pass attempts for six touchdowns and three interceptions, leaving flashes of promise that hinted at untapped potential.
Brown’s departure is part of a larger wave of Auburn players entering the transfer portal this offseason. He joins a list that includes quarterback Holden Geriner, tight end Micah Riley, offensive lineman E.J. Harris, defensive linemen Gage Keys and T.J. Lindsey, punter Gabe Russo, wide receivers Camden Brown and Caleb Burton, tight end Grant Hidalgo, and safety Caleb Wooden. The exodus comes at a pivotal time for Auburn as Freeze looks to reshape the roster for future success.
Brown’s transfer decision underscores the competitive nature of Auburn’s quarterback room and the broader challenges of maintaining depth and cohesion within the program. As Brown seeks a fresh start, his flashes of talent at Auburn suggest he could still make a significant impact at another program, provided he can find the right fit and continue to develop under a new system. Meanwhile, Auburn will need to address the growing list of departures as it prepares for the 2025 season.
