Hugh Freeze addresses Robby Ashford entering portal, plans at QB moving forward
Robby Ashford ended his two-year run at Auburn by electing to enter the transfer portal. With him joining the dozen former Tigers in the portal, Hugh Freeze has plenty to consider when it comes to the quarterback spot down on The Plains.
Freeze spoke about Ashford’s decision and its impact on the program’s quarterback room during a recent press conference. He started with Ashford by wishing him, along with the rest of the team’s transfers, luck in their next stops after deciding that a move was best for them.
“I had great conversations with Robby,” said Freeze. “I wish all those guys the best. Everybody has got to make their own choices of what they think is best for them.”
“We try to give them great advice, wisdom and, obviously, convince them to stay if we think that’s best for them,” Freeze continued. “In some cases? It’s okay for them to leave. But I enjoyed my conversations with Robby, wish him the best as I do the rest of the guys that have chosen to go in the portal.”
In his two years at Auburn, Ashford totaled nearly 2,700 total yards and 21 overall touchdowns. He traded time with TJ Finley in his first season before becoming the starter, though, and then spent this season as the backup. That dynamic likely led him to the portal to look for the third program of his career.
Now, moving forward, Freeze has options to look at as far as quarterback. However, while he’s looking at everything available in the portal, he wants some fans to take it easy considering what that path could entail.
“As far as the quarterback room? I’m just going to be really blunt. The cool thing, it seems, in most peoples eyes right now? The cool thing is, as soon as the quarterback hits the portal, I’m immediately getting hit with, ‘This is your guy!’, ‘Throw the bag at him!’. I mean I’m, like, have y’all watched the film?” asked Freeze. “That just seems to be the cool thing to do. Any maybe they’re right – I don’t know. But, truthfully, we evaluate and watch every single quarterback, lineman, receiver that goes in the portal. We try to evaluate is this the best thing for our football team?”
“If you go take one? You’re probably going to lose Payton (Thorne), Holden (Geriner),” Freeze said. “You better be right.”
Freeze also isn’t too hasty about adding another transfer quarterback because, in his mind, the team already has a very good one in Thorne. While it might be something they decide on later, he is currently focused on building up the roster around their current stable of quarterbacks.
“Truthfully? I don’t know if you know this but we have one of the top returning quarterbacks in the Power Five with wins in Payton Thorne,” said Freeze. “If we get the right pieces around him and Holden? I think our quarterback room is going to be fine next year.”
“That is my belief. It is what drives me to get the right pieces around them,” Freeze said. “I thought he showed, once we settled in offensively, what he could do.”
Ashford’s choice changes the dynamic of that position for Auburn heading into next season. Even so, Freeze is going to hold firm with the quarterbacks they have at the moment and will deal with the consequences if the rotation doesn’t pan out like he hopes.
“I believe in Payton, I believe in Holden. I believe in Hank (Brown) and I believe in the kid we’ve got coming,” said Freeze. “If I’m wrong? I’m wrong. But that’s my belief.”