Auburn Quarterback Says New Additions Should Get Offense Back On Track

DALLAS — Auburn made the rounds at SEC Media Days on Thursday with one prevailing question at the top of everybody’s mind … when will the offense return to form?

The Tigers finished last in the conference in passing yards last year at 162.2 and 11th in the conference in yards per play last season at 5.50. A lot of the blame was placed on the shoulders of Michigan State transfer quarterback Payton Thorne, who threw the second-most picks in the league with 10.

NASHVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 30: Auburn quarterback Payton Thorne (1) scrambles during the TransPerfect Music City Bowl, between the Auburn Tigers and the Maryland Terrapins on December 30, 2023 at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, TN. (Photo by Kevin Langley/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

However, the inability of receivers to get open and lackluster offensive line play contributed to his struggles. That will change in 2024 as coach Hugh Freeze signed 6-foot-3, 197-pound high school stud Cam Coleman, Georgia State transfer Robert Lewis and Penn State transfer KeAndre Lambert-Smith to the Plains. Their arrivals have Thorne pumped about the future.

"You start with Cam Coleman … obviously a huge name," Thorne told Outkick and College Football Smothered and Covered in an exclusive interview. "Auburn fans are super excited about him … as they should be. He’s been great … he’s been great to work with … he’s a stud. I think that he’s going to have a chance to only play at Auburn for three years and has a chance to be in the NFL. He works hard … he’s been great."

Lewis led Georgia State with 877 yards and seven touchdowns last season. Widely regarded as a Swiss Army Knife, Lewis will give Thorne and Freeze plenty of options to kickstart the offense and take advantage of mismatches. Like Lewis, Lambert-Smith led his team in receiving yards with 673 and has an above average skill set in essential every aspect of the wide receiver position.

"He has played big games and works hard," Thorne said. "He’s a guy with a lot of experience … just like Rob. Those guys are different than Cam. With Cam, you’re teaching some things to a guy who hasn’t experienced them yet."

What does this all mean? It means that tight end Rivaldo Fairweather — a versatile weapon who was Thorne’s only reliable pass-catcher last season — will not get covered like a blanket in 2024.

"There were times when we put him as a single outside into the boundary, and after a couple of games, they started cloud-covering him and putting two guys on him to make it really tough. They’re not going to be able to do that this year".

What does all of this mean? Auburn has a win total of 7.5 at BetOnline.

Unsolicited advice, this team will likely hit the over. The schedule, at least by Auburn standards, is navigable. Sure, the Tigers get Alabama and Georgia — but that is the case every season. California is their power five out-of-conference opponent, they have road trips to Kentucky and Missouri (not exactly daunting), they play lowly Vanderbilt on Nov. 2 and draw Oklahoma at home rather than fellow newbie and 2023 College Football Playoff participant Texas.

Don’t sleep on Auburn. Freeze has made Bo Wallace, Chad Kelly and Malik Willis into wildly effective college quarterbacks. Thorne could follow in their footsteps. The few tweaks that Freeze made in the offseason could go a long way.