Quarterback play has been a highly scrutinized aspect of Hugh Freeze’s first two seasons as Auburn’s head coach. Freeze’s decision to stick with senior Payton Thorne instead of looking for answers in the transfer portal drew criticism following early season struggles by the signal-caller. Following a two-game stretch where he was benched in favor of freshman Hank Brown, Thorne returned to the starting lineup and showed improvement, throwing 14 touchdowns and four interceptions to close the year. Despite this boost in Thorne’s play, the Tigers won only three of their final eight games. Auburn’s 5-7 record marks their fourth consecutive losing season, the program’s longest since a five-year stretch from 1946 to 1950.
With Thorne out of college eligibility, Auburn will trot out a new starting quarterback in 2025. This will be a tall task for the Tigers, who have already lost sophomore Holden Geriner and Brown to the transfer portal. The relatively inexperienced quarterback room consists of redshirt freshman Walker White, who has appeared in one game in relief of Thorne in a lopsided win over UL Monroe, and Deuce Knight, a highly touted recruit who signed his national letter of intent last week.
The pressure is on for Freeze to yield results in the win column, and the first step in this process would be the acquisition of a veteran signal-caller to help bolster the offense. Here is a look at some portal quarterbacks who could step in and put the Tigers in a position to win more in 2025:
Kaidon Salter
Salter is a choice that would make sense for the Tigers. His familiarity with Freeze, his head coach for two seasons at Liberty, would be a big selling point in bringing him to the Plains. Salter is a dynamic dual-threat quarterback with big play potential. In 2023, Salter had a monster season, throwing for 2,876 yards and 32 touchdowns, adding 1,089 yards and 12 touchdowns on the ground. Though he took a step back in 2024, he has shown a kind of potential that could help the Tigers immediately.
Miller Moss
Although his first year as a starter was a mixed bag, Moss remains an intriguing prospect. Moss impressed in the first game of the season, passing for 378 yards and a touchdown in USC’s victory over LSU. Though he has the talent to distribute the ball down the field, Moss struggled in closer matchups and ultimately lost his starting role. With capable playmakers like Cam Coleman and Malcolm Simmons, Freeze could construct a system to relieve some pressure on Moss and rebuild his confidence.
John Mateer
Mateer is another prospect who has showcased explosive dual-threat ability, passing for over 3,000 yards and 29 touchdowns to go along with 826 yards and 15 touchdowns on the ground. Though he has not officially entered the portal, the departure of his offensive coordinator, Ben Arbuckle, could prompt a move. If he decides to leave Washington State, his skill set would be a significant boost to the Auburn offense and elevate the Tigers into a prolific attack.
Jackson Arnold
The former five-star recruit had a rough 2024 season but showed flashes of potential as a passer and a runner. In the final two games of the season, Arnold ran for 131 yards in an upset victory over Alabama and 75 yards against LSU. Through the air, Arnold took care of the ball, throwing only three interceptions throughout the year. The talent is there and a jump to a prominent SEC school like Auburn could help revive Arnold’s career and reach his full potential.