Michigan State transfer Payton Thorne wins Auburn starting QB job - ESPN

Payton Thorne has won the Auburn starting quarterback job, coach Hugh Freeze announced on Thursday.

Thorne, a transfer from Michigan State, beat out Robby Ashford and will start for the Tigers in their Sept. 2 opener against UMass.

Thorne was a two-year starter for the Spartans, and Freeze said that his leadership and efficiency throwing the ball were big factors in his winning the job at Auburn after arriving on campus in June.

«The reason Payton is getting the nod is the leadership ability and understanding of the offense, and he's been in some really good battles and just seems like he was more efficient in decision-making to this point, not that the others were terrible by any means,» Freeze said. «It was not a slam dunk. I hope everyone will handle it right.»

From the time Thorne arrived on campus, Freeze said he's immersed himself into every aspect of the offense.

«The guy's in here all the time. I can't get rid of him,» Freeze said. «He wants to know all the ins and outs about everything… and he's a pro at it, knowing how to prepare, and that gives you a comfort level where you feel like he has the right mindset and understanding of the game plan.»

Freeze said that Thorne would get all the repetitions with the starting unit heading into the opener and that Ashford would get most of the work with the second unit. He said that redshirt freshman Holden Geriner would also get some reps with the second team.

«Holden is the most natural passer out of all of them, truthfully,» Freeze said.

Freeze said that Ashford will «always have a package [in the offense] if he handles this the right way» and added that Ashford «might be the most freakish athlete I've ever had at quarterback.»

Ashford, who transferred from Oregon