ESPN analyst Tom Luginbill links transfer quarterback to Auburn

Newly named head football coach Hugh Freeze has hit the recruiting trail hard since being named head coach on Nov. 28.

Freeze said in his introductory press conference that he feels that he can get Auburn to a respectable level of competition fairly quickly thanks to the emergence of NIL and the transfer portal.

“Ten years ago, you didn’t have (NIL and the transfer portal), and so the turnaround is a little different. Kids couldn’t just leave a school and come to Auburn. They can now,” Freeze said. “I do think we’ve got to be careful to get the right kids that fit our culture, but at the same time, it’s much easier to add to your roster now than it was when I took over at Ole Miss and they hadn’t won an SEC game in two years.”

One area that needs a boost is the quarterback position. Robby Ashford improved over the final four games of the season, especially in his run game. He is still a prime candidate to remain QB1 heading into 2023, but the position as a whole needs depth.

Zach Calzada has already entered the portal, and the status of T.J. Finley is unknown for next season. If Finley leaves, Auburn will have three scholarship quarterbacks on its roster, including Holden Geriner and 2023 commit Keyone Jenkins in addition to Ashford.

It would not hurt to have an experienced quarterback on the roster, whether it be to provide a “shot in the arm” or for leadership purposes. Out of all the current quarterbacks occupying the transfer portal, there is one that is viewed as a perfect match for Freeze and Auburn.

ESPN College Football analyst Tom Luginbill joined The Next Round on Wednesday to discuss Auburn’s options in the transfer portal. He says that Auburn should pursue Oklahoma State transfer Spencer Sanders as a transfer for a myriad of reasons, including from a momentum standpoint.

“When you marry Spencer Sanders and that skillset, and what we saw in the past from Hugh Freeze’s iterations with what we saw from Malik Willis, and even though it’s a one-and-done-type scenario, what if it helps you get off the mat, right,” Luginbill said on the show based out of Birmingham. “What if it helps you accelerate the improvement of the program, (and) generate momentum with the program? I like that marriage of the offensive identity and the skillset and a guy that’s played a lot of football, been highly successful.”

Sanders is seen as a prolific passer. In four seasons at Oklahoma State, Sanders threw for 9,953 yards and 67 touchdowns. This season, he passed for 2,642 yards and 17 touchdowns. If Freeze is looking for a one-year option to better develop his quarterback rook, Sanders may be a viable option.

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Transfer Portal Tracker: Live updates of Auburn Tigers in the portal

Story originally appeared on Auburn Wire