5 Auburn football players who have risen their stock in spring practice

AUBURN — The spring period is nearly over for Auburn football.

The Tigers held their 11th practice Thursday, and they’ll have three more over the next week ahead of A-Day on April 6. There typically aren’t any grand takeaways to glean during the spring — the beginning of the 2024 season remains months away — but some players can separate themselves from the pack a bit.

Coach Hugh Freeze will say there isn’t a depth chart, and there very well may not be a formal one, but players can begin to set the foundation for fall success.

A number of players have done well, but here are five of the biggest spring risers for Auburn with the A-Day game quickly approaching:

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QB Payton Thorne

Fifth-year quarterback Payton Thorne didn’t get a chance to go through spring practice ahead of his first season with the Tigers; he transferred to Auburn in May after spending three seasons at Michigan State. Thorne, who started all but one game in 2023, played 78.7% of the offense’s snaps last season, per Pro Football Focus.

Thorne hasn’t stood out as some sort of world-beater, but he’s seemingly maintained his role as the starter at a position that included redshirt sophomore Holden Geriner, redshirt freshman Hank Brown and true freshman Walker White. Freeze said early in spring that Thorne was the leader in the clubhouse. There’s no reason to think that’s changed.

“Our decision-making has not been exactly what I want it to be just yet, but, boy, they’re hungry to learn,” Freeze said of his QBs on March 19. “Payton has been pretty good. The other three, it’s new to a lot of them.”

DB Champ Anthony

Former JUCO cornerback Champ Anthony played 81 defensive snaps last season. That number…


Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/5-auburn-football-players-risen-091309404.html

Author : The Montgomery Advertiser

Publish date : 2024-03-29 09:13:09

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