It is no secret that Auburn quarterback Payton Thorne did not have his best season in 2023.
Thorne went 162-265 for 1,755 yards, 16 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
At SEC Media Days, Thorne talked about the improvements the offense made during the offseason, the new coaching staff surrounding him and more.
"No question," Thorne said on if he anticipates having a better season. "I think the work that we put in this offseason reflects that, and my confidence comes from the preparation that we've put in. I think it's been a really good offseason. Like you said, we've got some new weapons. KeAndre (Lambert-Smith) from Penn State just got here in the summer, so getting to know him. It's been great so far. I'm excited for what we have to come."
Thorne talked about how beneficial it is knowing that head coach Hugh Freeze is confident in him.
"It's huge. Honestly, at the quarterback position having — your coach having your back is huge, to be honest with you," Thorne said. "To hear those things from Coach Freeze is awesome. I feel like me and him are really on the same page right now. We're working to really see eye-to-eye on everything with the offense, and that comes with watching film. That comes with being on the field and asking questions."
"I think that we're really in a good place right now, and it's going to continue to get better, and I'm really excited to see what it's like working directly with him this offseason — or this season coming up," he added.
Wide receiver Cam Coleman was the crown jewel of Auburn's 2024 recruiting class. Thorne talked about playing with him and what he brings to the table.
"He (Coleman) brings a lot," Thorne said. "He brings speed. He brings a great ability to jump, and those are just his physical abilities. He's a great guy, honestly. He's been awesome. Really selfless guy. He's funny, and he works hard. That's the most important thing."
"Having a young guy come in like that who is a big prospect, sometimes you don't know what kind of personality you're going to get, but he works like he hasn't done anything yet, which I guess technically he hasn't at this level," he continued. "He's been great so far, and it's going to make a lot of plays for us this year, and Auburn is going to love him. He gives the ability to spread the field, both horizontally and vertically. Teams are going to have to respect that, and I can't wait to be on the field with him."
Thorne discussed the Tigers' home-field advantage at Jordan-Hare Stadium and how significant it can be.
"There's no doubt it's tough to play at our place," Thorne said. "I've stood on the sidelines, and you hear it on third down. You hear it on third down in the second quarter. It's not like they wait till the fourth quarter to get going. I know our place is hard to play. Our fans are outstanding. So happy to get to play at a place that your fans care so much about it."
"They understand they play an important role in the game. So they've been great. It's a tough place to play. It's not easy. I've heard that it's a long road to get in. I guess there's a unique route to get to the stadium, as the visiting opponent. All that stuff plays into it. Also the stories you hear about it, it plays a mental game with somebody when they hear what they do about it. Our fans are the real deal. They love Auburn. They love Auburn football, and they love showing up on Saturday and giving everything they got just like we do," he added.
Auburn opens up the season against Alabama A&M on August 31 at 6:30 p.m. CT. The broadcast will be carried by ESPN+/SECN+
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email daniel.locke@1819news.com.
Don't miss out! Subscribe to our newsletter and get our top stories every weekday morning.
