AUBURN — Auburn football has opted for some intrigue at this year’s edition of SEC Media Days.
Rather than leaning on a few low-profile, seasoned veterans such as sixth-year tight end Luke Deal or senior cornerback Keionte Scott to represent the program at the conference’s premier offseason event, the Tigers are set to send linebacker Eugene Asante, defensive end Keldric Faulk and quarterback Payton Thorne to Dallas with coach Hugh Freeze.
Asante makes sense, given his vibrant personality and breakout performance last season. But the other two are a bit of a shock, considering Thorne’s rocky campaign in 2023 and Faulk’s inexperience. Faulk, entering his second season at Auburn, is the first true sophomore to ever represent the program at media days, according to Justin Ferguson of the Auburn Observer.
Here are a few questions for Freeze and his players to field when it’s their turn to speak at the Omni Hotel in downtown Dallas on Thursday:
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Why will Year 2 be different for Payton Thorne?
There is absolutely no sugarcoating it: Thorne did not have the season many hoped he would in 2023. Following a four-year career at Michigan State that featured him logging nearly 6,500 passing yards and 49 passing touchdowns in 29 appearances, Thorne logged just 1,755 yards through the air last season and didn’t record a passing TD against SEC competition until mid-October.
Those numbers, obviously, must improve if Auburn wants to be better.
“I believe in him,” Freeze said of Thorne this month at an AMBUSH event in Lake Martin. “I believe in his leadership. I meet with him every single week right now. He has a knowledge of the game that’s as good as I’ve been around for a quarterback. Now that we’ve gone back to some of the things I’m really familiar with, I think he’s going to be more comfortable. …I’m optimistic and believe in Payton, for sure.”
What are expectations like in the building?
Freeze has been adamant since he arrived at Auburn that deploying his plan for the program will require time and patience. He’s been consistent in his desire to build through traditional recruiting, and he wants to get a few recruiting classes in the building before getting too confident.
But the wins have to come, and he knows that. Another six-win season and another batch of disappointing offensive numbers will cause his seat to warm. Two straight years of troubling results would do that to any coach at Auburn.
With that established, what are fair expectations? What would be a successful second season for Freeze? Something he will surely shoot for is finishing with a winning record, a feat the Tigers haven’t done since 2020.
Who will take a step up defensively?
Auburn’s defense kept the Tigers in plenty of games last season, allowing fewer than 30 points nine times and letting up more than 31 just once; LSU and Heisman-winning quarterback Jayden Daniels posted 48 on the unit in a blowout.
Stars on the defensive side last season included safety Jaylin Simpson and defensive lineman Marcus Harris. Both have left for the NFL, as have standout cornerbacks DJ James and Nehemiah Pritchett. Other impact players such as Zion Puckett and Justin Rogers are also out the door.
Who’s up next? Faulk seems like the most logical answer, especially considering the trust Freeze is showing in him by sending him to media days. There will still need to be others, though.
Richard Silva is the Auburn athletics beat writer for the Montgomery Advertiser. He can be reached via email at rsilva@gannett.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @rich_silva18.
This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Auburn football: Questions for Hugh Freeze ahead of SEC Media Days
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