Redshirt freshman Hank Brown has been announced by head coach Hugh Freeze as the starting quarterback for the Auburn Tigers against the University of New Mexico Lobos this coming Saturday. After a subpar performance by quarterback Payton Thorne against the California Golden Bears in week two, Freeze pulled the trigger switching things up from the transfer portal quarterback he brought in last year in Thorne.
In the contest against the Golden Bears, Thorne did himself no favors for the Tigers who were favored by roughly 17 points going into the contest according to FanDuel. The fifth-year senior threw four interceptions in the contest and to many looked like a deer in headlights.
With the Tigers’ first SEC matchup looming against the Arkansas Razorbacks in just a few weeks, inserting Hank Brown as the starter against the Lobos makes perfect sense. If Brown performs well, he is the unquestionable starter moving forward. He also will then have a game as a starting quarterback under his belt, which should give him some confidence heading into the grind of the SEC.
What was Hank Brown’s high school ranking?
According to On3, Brown ranked as the 55th overall quarterback prospect in the class of 2023 and the 1,107th overall prospect. The three-star product was recruited by Freeze back during his time as the head coach at Liberty, and continued to pursue Brown when he took the job on the Plains.
Last year, Tigers fans got a glimpse of Freeze in the Music City Bowl when Brown went in for the struggling Thorne. Brown would get 7-for-9 in the contest for 132 yards including an impressive 53-yard pass to wide receiver Caleb Burton III.
Brown is beating out the competition in practice
Not only is Brown making the start over Thorne, but he is also making the start over other scholarship quarterbacks on the Tigers’ roster in junior Holden Geriner and freshman Walker White. Both White and Geriner were ranked higher than Brown as four-star recruits in their respective classes. Brown’s determination and level-headedness is apparent in being named the starter for the Tigers over all other options heading into week three.
In a podcast with LockedOn Auburn’s Zac Blackerby back in January after the Music City Bowl, it become apparent that Brown had the right mindset for success on the Plains. And now he is getting his chance.
“I feel that my confidence going into the game was only because I place my identity in Christ and I do not play my identity in football,” Brown said. “It is (football) is just something that I do but it is not my identity. I can go out there and play free.”
This type of mindset seemed to translate on the field in the Music City Bowl. Brown’s calmness in the pocket and ability to connect with receivers was impressive. And even on the positive plays, he seemed to not be too overhyped. Considering this was back in January and he has had another eight months to improve combined with the Tigers having better options at wide receiver, the sky is the limit for Brown and the Tigers moving forward in 2024.