5 questions for Auburn football's Hugh Freeze to answer in spring practice

AUBURN — Spring practice is a time of opportunity and challenge. Optimism and worry. Excitement and anxiety.

For Auburn football, it'll all likely start in about a month. The Tigers have yet to announce when their first of 15 practices during the spring period will take place, but they did establish April 6 as the date for coach Hugh Freeze's second A-Day. The beginning of spring practice should be five weeks prior to that, plus an additional week for spring break. The start date last year was Feb. 27.

It'll mark the start of Year 2 for Freeze, who led Auburn to a 6-7 record in Year 1. Freeze was adamant throughout his first campaign that his focus was on recruiting, but even he admitted after a loss to Maryland in the Music City Bowl that his team left some proverbial meat on the bone.

Here are five questions Freeze must find answers to by the time A-Day wraps up:

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Is Auburn football's starting QB on campus?

Freeze put his support behind the quarterbacks on his roster Dec. 16 before walking his comments back some after getting waxed by the Terrapins: "It's wide open," Freeze said Dec. 30. "... That position should be an interesting one, certainly, in spring practice."

Incumbent starter Payton Thorne makes the most sense, given his experience. But some of the youth − redshirt freshman Hank Brown and incoming true freshman Walker White − could give Freeze something to think about. Brown completed seven of his nine garbage-time passes against Maryland for 132 yards, and White finished the recruiting cycle rated as the No. 5 QB in the country by 247Sports.

Holden Geriner, who has been praised for his arm talent, also has just as good of a shot as anyone.

Does Keionte Scott play inside or outside CB?

With DJ James and Nehemiah Pritchett off to the NFL, nickel cornerback Keionte Scott said in December that he'd be transitioning back to the boundary, where he started his career. He played on the outside during the Music City Bowl, too.

Donovan Kaufman seemed like his obvious replacement in the slot, but he's since entered the transfer portal. Auburn pulled in five blue-chip defensive backs in 2023, and they're all heading into their second seasons with the program. Where they align will likely impact where Scott goes.

Will a freshman WR step up?

The most obvious candidate to answer this call is five-star receiver Cam Coleman, who finished his senior season at Central-Phenix City High School with 61 receptions, 1,372 yards and 18 touchdowns to help lead his team to the Class 7A state championship.

But four-star prospect Bryce Cain will be around, as well. The speedster could prove to be a difference maker in the slot, where outgoing transfer Ja'Varrius Johnson played 104 snaps last season. Other WR signees in the Class of 2024 − five-star Perry Thompson and four-star Malcolm Simmons − won't be present for spring practice. They'll arrive in the summer ahead of fall camp.

Youth or experience at LB?

With Larry Nixon III running out of eligibility and Cam Riley hitting the portal, two of the four linebackers in Auburn's rotation need to be replaced. Duke transfer Dorian Mausi figures to take one of the spots, teaming up with the already established pieces Eugene Asante and Austin Keys.

That leaves one opening. Those vying for it include veterans such as Wesley Steiner and Robert Woodyard Jr. and freshmen like DJ Barber, Joseph Phillips and Demarcus Riddick.

Who replaces Kam Stutts, Gunner Britton at OG?

Auburn returns three starting offensive linemen from last season: left tackle Dillon Wade, center Connor Lew and right tackle Izavion Miller. Starting guards Gunner Britton and Kam Stutts are both out of eligibility.

The Tigers landed a transfer commitment Jan. 11 from former Mississippi State OT Percy Lewis, the starting left tackle over the final seven games for the Bulldogs last season. His addition makes it possible for Auburn to kick Wade, who profiles more as an OG at the next level, inside. The last remaining spot figures to be fought over by returners such as Jeremiah Wright, Jaden Muskrat and Dylan Senda, among others.

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 to answer in spring practice