Auburn will start redshirt freshman Hank Brown at quarterback against New Mexico in Week 3, Brandon Marcello confirms, as second-year coach Hugh Freeze looks to spark his struggling offense. Brown will replace senior Payton Thorne, who threw four interceptions in the Tigers' 21-14 Week 2 loss to Cal.
The move will give Freeze a longer look at an intriguing young player before the stakes ratchet up with a visit from Arkansas in Week 4 to open SEC play. Brown has completed 10 of 14 passes for 228 yards with a pair of touchdowns and no interceptions over two career appearances.
Brown was a three-star prospect in the Class of 2023 after starring under UAB coach and former Super Bowl-winning quarterback Trent Dilfer at Lipscomb Academy in Nashville, Tennessee. Though ranked only the No. 60 quarterback in his class by 247Sports, he's offered glimpses of potential since enrolling in the summer of 2023.
He debuted in a lopsided Music City Bowl loss to Maryland last season, coming off the bench to complete 7 of 9 passes for 132 yards. Otherwise, his only game action came during a 73-3 blowout win over Alabama A&M on Aug. 31, when he completed 3 of 5 passes for 96 yards with a pair of touchdowns.
Playing New Mexico should offer Brown the chance to build confidence. The Lobos (0-2) surrendered 567 yards in a 35-31 Week 0 loss to FCS foe Montana State and gave up 627 yards in a 61-39 Week 1 loss to Arizona.
Freeze hinted earlier in the week that a quarterback change could be coming, saying that if Thorne continued to struggle, "we have to go in another direction."
Thorne completed 61.1% of his passes with 16 touchdowns and 10 interceptions last season during his first year with Auburn. But instead of luring a transfer to upgrade a pedestrian quarterback room, Freeze doubled down on the returners in his group entering the 2024 season. That decision backfired against Cal as the Tigers mustered just 286 yards while falling at home.
