Latest news with #PaytonThorne
Associated Press
4 days ago
- Sport
- Associated Press
Hugh Freeze, QB Jackson Arnold are confident Auburn can be a winner in 2025
ATLANTA (AP) — Hugh Freeze is in unfamiliar territory as he heads into year three as Auburn's coach. The former Arkansas State, Ole Miss and Liberty coach only had one losing season in his decade as a Division I head coach, but his first two seasons at Auburn have yielded meager results at 6-7 and 5-7. Last fall marked the first football season without a head coaching change in the SEC since 2018, but Freeze certainly enters 2025 on the hot seat. 'I'm glad I'm at a place that has those expectations,' Freeze said Tuesday at SEC media days. 'I think when you've done this awhile, you really don't give into a lot of the pressure stuff.' Everything starts at quarterback with the highest profile of Auburn's 19 incoming transfers. Freeze signed former Oklahoma starter Jackson Arnold, hoping he can finally provide stability. Starting quarterback Payton Thorne and his backup Hank Brown both struggled last season particularly with ball security, as the Tigers threw 13 interceptions as a team and finished 119th nationally in turnover margin. Arnold himself struggled through a difficult season with the Sooners, losing his starting job for two games and playing the final five games of the regular season with an interim offensive coordinator. But between Freeze's quarterback-friendly system and a year of SEC experience now under his belt, there is optimism about the fresh start being mutually beneficial. 'Coach Freeze isn't scared to push the ball down the field, which I absolutely love,' Arnold said. 'I thought with my experience running the RPO game, I think it meshed well with what Coach Freeze wants to do with his offense.' He will have two of Auburn's top three receivers from last year in terms of both yards and touchdowns back with Cam Coleman and Malcolm Simmons, along with incoming transfer Eric Singleton Jr. from Georgia Tech. That combined with a returning nucleus on the offensive line led by center Connor Lew has Freeze expecting a sizable jump offensively. 'This is my favorite offensive line when I look at it on paper,' Freeze said. 'We'd better be able to run the football and protect the quarterback, because I think we're pretty talented up there.' Heading into 2025 Freeze is not only 11-14 overall, but 5-11 in SEC play, 2-6 in one-possession games and perhaps most damaging in the eyes of fans and administrators, 0-4 against rivals Alabama and Georgia. 'Our roster is one that can compete with those teams,' Freeze said, directly addressing the rivalry shortcomings. 'We've been in the games the first two years, but we haven't found a way to win.' Auburn will get both games at home, with Georgia playing at Jordan-Hare Stadium on Oct. 11 and Alabama coming in for the regular-season finale Nov. 29. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college football: and
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Hugh Freeze, QB Jackson Arnold are confident Auburn can be a winner in 2025
ATLANTA (AP) — Hugh Freeze is in unfamiliar territory as he heads into year three as Auburn's coach. The former Arkansas State, Ole Miss and Liberty coach only had one losing season in his decade as a Division I head coach, but his first two seasons at Auburn have yielded meager results at 6-7 and 5-7. Advertisement Last fall marked the first football season without a head coaching change in the SEC since 2018, but Freeze certainly enters 2025 on the hot seat. "I'm glad I'm at a place that has those expectations,' Freeze said Tuesday at SEC media days. 'I think when you've done this awhile, you really don't give into a lot of the pressure stuff.' Everything starts at quarterback with the highest profile of Auburn's 19 incoming transfers. Freeze signed former Oklahoma starter Jackson Arnold, hoping he can finally provide stability. Starting quarterback Payton Thorne and his backup Hank Brown both struggled last season particularly with ball security, as the Tigers threw 13 interceptions as a team and finished 119th nationally in turnover margin. Arnold himself struggled through a difficult season with the Sooners, losing his starting job for two games and playing the final five games of the regular season with an interim offensive coordinator. But between Freeze's quarterback-friendly system and a year of SEC experience now under his belt, there is optimism about the fresh start being mutually beneficial. Advertisement 'Coach Freeze isn't scared to push the ball down the field, which I absolutely love,' Arnold said. 'I thought with my experience running the RPO game, I think it meshed well with what Coach Freeze wants to do with his offense.' He will have two of Auburn's top three receivers from last year in terms of both yards and touchdowns back with Cam Coleman and Malcolm Simmons, along with incoming transfer Eric Singleton Jr. from Georgia Tech. That combined with a returning nucleus on the offensive line led by center Connor Lew has Freeze expecting a sizable jump offensively. 'This is my favorite offensive line when I look at it on paper,' Freeze said. 'We'd better be able to run the football and protect the quarterback, because I think we're pretty talented up there.' Heading into 2025 Freeze is not only 11-14 overall, but 5-11 in SEC play, 2-6 in one-possession games and perhaps most damaging in the eyes of fans and administrators, 0-4 against rivals Alabama and Georgia. Advertisement 'Our roster is one that can compete with those teams,' Freeze said, directly addressing the rivalry shortcomings. 'We've been in the games the first two years, but we haven't found a way to win.' Auburn will get both games at home, with Georgia playing at Jordan-Hare Stadium on Oct. 11 and Alabama coming in for the regular-season finale Nov. 29. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college football: and
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
CFB Analyst Names Auburn's 'Achilles Heel' in 2024
CFB Analyst Names Auburn's 'Achilles Heel' in 2024 originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Auburn Tigers missed a bowl game under head coach Hugh Freeze following a 5-7 finish to the 2024 season. On a recent episode of "The Hard Count," JD PicKell identified turnovers as Auburn's "Achilles Heel." Advertisement The Tigers could not get out of their own way, mainly due to turnovers. Auburn threw 13 interceptions and lost nine fumbles last season. After forcing 13 turnovers, the team finished with a turnover margin of (-9), ranking 120th in college football. Freeze has taken Auburn to one bowl game since accepting the job in 2023. The Tigers went to the Music City Bowl, but lost 31-13 to the Maryland Terrapins. Auburn Tigers head coach Hugh Freeze talks with quarterback Deuce Knight. Jake Crandall/ Advertiser / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images "Turnovers were the Achilles' Heel," PicKell said. "You can't say here in the month of June and say, 'Well, if we didn't turn the football over, we'd be a much different team.' You did turn the football over, so what are we talking about? But it's not unfair to have a discussion about how good Auburn could be going forward if they clean up those turnover mistakes." Advertisement Quarterback Payton Thorne had nine of Auburn's 13 interceptions last year. Thorne is now in the NFL and the Tigers added former Oklahoma Sooners gunslinger Jackson Arnold. However, Arnold has also struggled with turnover issues in the past. Last year, as Oklahoma's starting quarterback, Arnold threw three interceptions and fumbled the ball nine times. While Arnold needs to prove that he can limit the mistakes, PicKell believes adding Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets transfer Eric Singleton Jr. will help in that area. PicKell also stated that Arnold is the key to the Auburn offense if the turnovers can be stopped. Advertisement The Tigers face the Baylor Bears to open the 2025 season on August 29. Related: Auburn's Jordan-Hare Stadium Ranking for EA Sports College Football 26 Revealed This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 1, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
QB Payton Thorne, 12 other undrafted players sign with Bengals
The Bengals signed four draft picks on Thursday and they added a bunch of undrafted rookies to the roster on Friday. Quarterback Payton Thorne was one of 13 signings announced by the team. Thorne spent three years at Michigan State and two seasons at Auburn before moving into the NFL. He was 199-of-317 for 2,713 yards, 21 touchdowns, and nine interceptions last season. Advertisement The Bengals also signed Ohio State center Seth McLaughlin, Duke wide receiver Jordan Moore, Oklahoma State wide receiver Rashod Owens, West Virginia tight end Kole Taylor, Michigan long snapper William Wagner, Dickinson defensive tackle Dante Barnett, Arizona running back Quali Conley, Notre Dame defensive tackle Howard Cross III, BYU tackle Caleb Etienne, Arkansas defensive tackle Eric Gregory, Texas Tech cornerback Bralyn Lux, and Cincinnati wide receiver Jamoi Mayes. Barnett is from England and will receive a roster exemption as part of the International Player Pathway Program.
NBC Sports
09-05-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
QB Payton Thorne, 12 other undrafted players sign with Bengals
The Bengals signed four draft picks on Thursday and they added a bunch of undrafted rookies to the roster on Friday. Quarterback Payton Thorne was one of 13 signings announced by the team. Thorne spent three years at Michigan State and two seasons at Auburn before moving into the NFL. He was 199-of-317 for 2,713 yards, 21 touchdowns, and nine interceptions last season. The Bengals also signed Ohio State center Seth McLaughlin, Duke wide receiver Jordan Moore, Oklahoma State wide receiver Rashod Owens, West Virginia tight end Kole Taylor, Michigan long snapper William Wagner, Dickinson defensive tackle Dante Barnett, Arizona running back Quali Conley, Notre Dame defensive tackle Howard Cross III, BYU tackle Caleb Etienne, Arkansas defensive tackle Eric Gregory, Texas Tech cornerback Bralyn Lux, and Cincinnati wide receiver Jamoi Mayes. Barnett is from England and will receive a roster exemption as part of the International Player Pathway Program.
