Less than a day after the Auburn Tigers concluded their season, the team is already experiencing roster changes as players announce their intentions to enter the transfer portal. Among them is quarterback Holden Geriner, who plans to continue his collegiate career elsewhere, as reported by On3’s Steve Wiltfong, Pete Nakos, and Hayes Fawcett.
Geriner, a 6-foot-3, 205-pound sophomore from Savannah, Georgia, played in eight games across his three seasons with Auburn. During his time with the Tigers, he completed 9-of-20 pass attempts for 116 yards and one interception. A four-star prospect coming out of high school, Geriner was ranked as the No. 271 player nationally by 247Sports. He still has two years of eligibility remaining, making him an attractive option for teams seeking an experienced quarterback.
There was also speculation regarding quarterback Hank Brown entering the transfer portal, but the redshirt freshman from Nashville quickly debunked those rumors through his Instagram story, confirming that he intends to stay with Auburn. Brown, a 6-foot-4, 208-pound player, made his debut for the Tigers in the Music City Bowl last season against Maryland, where he impressed by completing 7-of-9 passes for 132 yards.
Heading into the 2024 season, Brown initially secured the second-string quarterback spot behind starter Payton Thorne. He started two games early in the season after Thorne struggled against California but lost the role after a challenging first half against Arkansas, during which he threw three interceptions. This season, Brown appeared in four games, completing 27-of-43 pass attempts for 403 yards, six touchdowns, and three interceptions. A former three-star recruit, Brown was ranked as the No. 1,447 player nationally by 247Sports and retains three years of eligibility.
Auburn’s quarterback room has been significantly affected by these developments. With Payton Thorne’s college career concluded and Holden Geriner entering the transfer portal, the Tigers are now left with Hank Brown and freshman Walker White, who saw limited action against Louisiana-Monroe. To strengthen the quarterback depth, head coach Hugh Freeze is expected to bring in Deuce Knight, a five-star prospect and the No. 28 player nationally, on national signing day. Additionally, Auburn is likely to pursue at least one more quarterback through the transfer portal to ensure competition and depth for the upcoming season.
These roster moves indicate a period of transition for Auburn’s quarterback lineup, as they look to rebuild and prepare for the future with a mix of promising recruits and experienced transfers.
