Payton Thorne takes first-group reps as Auburn football's Hugh Freeze says rotation begins

AUBURN — Let the games begin.

Auburn football had its first preseason practice Thursday morning, and the race is on between Robby Ashford, Holden Geriner and Payton Thorne to be AU's starting quarterback. Coach Hugh Freeze said at SEC Media Days in Nashville last month that he'd like the competition to be a two-horse race 10 days into fall camp.

But until then, he's got another plan.

"I think we have a really good plan of the rotation between those three guys," Freeze said just before practice began Thursday. "They're all going to rotate through the first five practices really evenly amongst the 1s and 2s and 3s. We'll evaluate all of those reps and kind of recalibrate and sit down and kind of go through there after the first five."

NOT PRESENT: Auburn football running back Jarquez Hunter not at practice

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Thorne ran with the first group during the portion of practice open to media. Geriner was with the second group and Ashford was with the third. The offenses, which were throwing and running against air, aren't necessarily indicative of the first-, second- and third-teams on the depth chart, but they potentially give a look into what the coaches are thinking.

“It’s impossible for you not to visit with Payton because he demands it," Freeze said when asked about his relationship with Thorne. "I’m in my phone every day (and Thorne says), ‘Hey coach, you got any free time today? Hey coach, you got any free time today?’ I love that about him. ...

"I feel very comfortable with who he is and his leadership and his desire and his preparation and his football IQ. But you’ve got to make plays, and I haven’t seen that yet. And truthfully, I’m excited about the competition between he and Robby and Holden. I think it’s going to make them all better.”

New-look WR corps

Transfer wide receivers Caleb Burton III (Ohio State), Shane Hooks (Jackson State) and Jyaire Shorter (North Texas) made their practice debuts. There were no defenders in front of him, but Burton looked good working out of the slot with the second group; his time in front of the media was highlighted by a 45-yard reception from Thorne in a different drill.

“We needed to overhaul that room and we improved it for sure," Freeze said of the receivers. "... We’ve got to have those guys have production. I do think we’ve improved that room in recruiting and I do think there are guys here that can be better than what they’ve shown. I think we’ve seen glimpses of that, but now we’ve got to go do it when it’s real and live. But we are excited about the fact that I think we’ve improved that room, for sure.”

Junior college standout at practice

After his eligibility wasn't immediately clear, former junior college defensive lineman Quientrail Jamison-Travis was on campus and participating in practice. He's one of three JUCO pickups for Auburn this offseason, joined by defensive back Champ Anthony and offensive tackle Izavion Miller.

First-team offense

QB: Payton Thorne

RB: Damari Alston

WR: Camden Brown, Nick Mardner and Jay Fair

TE: Rivaldo Fairweather

OL (left to right): Dillon Wade, Tate Johnson, Avery Jones, Kam Stutts and Gunner Britton

Second-team offense

QB: Holden Geriner

RB: Brian Battie

WR: Jyaire Shorter, Malcolm Johnson Jr. and Caleb Burton III

TE: Micah Riley-Ducker

OL (left to right): Garner Langlo, Jeremiah Wright, Connor Lew, Jaden Muskrat and Izavion Miller

Third-team offense

QB: Robby Ashford

RB: Sean Jackson

WR: Omari Kelly, Shane Hooks and Ja'Varrius Johnson

TE: Tyler Fromm

OL (left to right): Tyler Johnson, Bradyn Joiner, Jalil Irvin, EJ Harris and Clay Wedin

Richard Silva is the Auburn athletics beat writer for the Montgomery Advertiser. He can be reached via email at rsilva@gannett.com or on Twitter @rich_silva18.

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Auburn football QB competition: What Hugh Freeze said about the race