Justin Hokanson on Payton Thorne, Cam Coleman and Hugh Freeze's Year 2

On3's Justin Hokanson joined the show to discuss all things Auburn in 2024. Which portal QB nearly ended up on The Plains? Is Hugh Freeze properly handling the patience vs. panic dilemma? And what's a fair expectation for the Tigers?

[@michaelbee2165]

This has been an outstanding interview. As it concludes, I know already I will watch it again. Hoke did a magnificent job explaining what was happening on and off the field last year. He did a superb job talking about Hugh Freeze's thinking and philosophy and how & why it has evolved.

[@scuffd3542]

Great interview - I appreciate that you let Hoke talk and didn't interrupt him. New sub...

[@buddyskinner1633]

Saying Auburn doesn’t have any receivers from the past is useless. With Coach Freeze and the staff he has, Auburn is now going to be known for it’s great receivers. We all know how poor the roster was last year or three. The time is now!!

[@f.scott.fitzbeagle]

Just didn't have many snaps last year. A combination of not getting defensive stops or first downs on offense. Durkin seems more willing to pressure the opposing QB. A better passing game and the running backs should equal more first downs. I think it speaks volumes that all the running backs are returning.

[@michaelbee2165]

Interesting comment that I'd not really thought about. Yes, Auburn probably did have fewer snaps because of the poor conversions on 1st down and then the lack of stops on defense. So, taking that further, that no doubt resulted in the low number of pass attempts, too. Therefore, few completion yards. Of course, the whole offense was a mess, too. I'm hoping that what Freeze has constructed around Thorne is going to lead to a couple more wins. I see Hugh's reasoning around not getting a portal qb and paying $1 million and the locker room issues that could result. Reportedly, that was exactly the issue with KJ Jefferson at Arkansas. I mean, his linemen were letting him go down, then not helping him up. KJ was a real ass in the locker room (the running back, too? Can't say his name). Anyway, that's the very situation Hugh Freeze was wanting to avoid. We'll see what happens with Juju Lewis. But that's a recruiting pursuit. Hugh has publicly said he plans to rebuild through recruiting rather than the portal. For culture reasons.

[@f.scott.fitzbeagle]

@@michaelbee2165 I didn't know that about KJ. Auburn offense was a mess. Hoak and others have said, Coach Freeze was not comfortable with his staff. A lot has changed, so I also hope for more wins.

[@camg1145]

9:13 yeah, Burrow improved down the stretch because he was throwing to a bunch of NFL talent…

[@bluntsoup8593]

So why did Hugh get Thorne that 600k last season?

[@livingadreamlife1428]

No elite QB wants to play in Hugh’s system. Zero guys wanted to play for him out of the transfer portal. That speaks volumes. It’s an outdated, run-oriented high school offense that employs a QB run game.

[@bradscrazylife4269]

I said firing Malzahn would set us back 5 years. I was right

[@kenchadivey2020]

I’m a true Auburn fan. With Payton Auburn is not going to win 8 games. Hugh has nobody to blame. Hugh is rolling the dice on this one. I like Hugh Freeze 🥶 don’t get me wrong, Auburn it’s just a bad decision.

[@clydecovington3972]

Auburn didn’t hire a head coach to be a one season winner with hired guns firm the transfer portal. That is what Kentucky Basketball coach is famous for doing. Auburn hire a head coach to build a winner football program. And coach Hugh Freeze can only build a program with the right combination of young recruits and the transfer portal. To build a program will take at least 3 years to really be equally competitive to most of the SEC top tier football programs. As for the Auburn quarterback, good receivers that can actually catch almost any ball that is within their catchable zone will make an average quarter back that don’t do too many turnovers look near elite. An elite quarter back that can put the ball on the money in tight windows cannot make receivers who can’t hold on to the ball, didn’t see the ball that bounced off of them, or who is more worried about the defender breathing down his back catch and secure the ball. I feel with the new improved players Auburn wins for the 2024 season is 7.5 wins.

[@Rockstar8953]

If offense don’t approve in 2024 I think pressure will be on HF in 2025 ….. and 2025 could be even worser …. Thing could get ugly real quick. Should it be this difficult to find a quality Qb for Auburn this being going on for to many years

[@WineStok]

is english your first language??

[@Rockstar8953]

@@WineStokok troll

[@davidblackmon8523]

​@@WineStokI was wondering the same thing.

[@rayray5561]

Making an excuse to keep a QB who hasn't showed any progress and who was terrible in big games never showed any improvement and don't say anything about the bowl game Ole Miss game Cal game Texas am he was trash Georgia🗑️ 🤦🏿‍♂️

[@lemoriesnalls2894]

One of the worse seasons statistically for a quarterback in Auburn history. Can’t put that all on wrs. It was a waste of resources and money to get a quarterback out the portal who “might be” decent for one season. They can hype him up all they want, Thorne is nothing but a mediocre game manager at his best.

[@johncastleberry3719]

Can’t ignore he missed spring practice. It’s commonly known those are the most pivotal practices for a season, especially for a QB. Let’s see how he does this year with spring practice, play calling worth a damn, and weapons. It’s not like we would’ve been a playoff contender with a portal QB anyways… better to invest money into high school players

[@Hummer999xx]

Pretty pathetic not being a ranked team.

[@matthewcofield6251]

We should’ve just paid Riley tbh

[@camg1145]

It sounds like the options were to fill all the other holes in the roster (with both high school studs and transfers), or to go throw a ton of money at Riley or one of the others. From what I heard, they offered a mil to Riley, but his number was closer to 1.5 mil. This team wasn’t winning a championship with just adding Riley.

[@buddyskinner1633]

Plus Riley is still hurt. Just like the NY Jets paying Aaron Rodgers mega millions 💰💰 Notre Dame is now kicking themselves for overpaying Leonard. But the Irish have very deep pockets I would imagine.

[@rayray5561]

Payton is trash he should've got a QB from the portal We could've got at least ten wins with Cam Ward

[@BradenINSANE]

This idea that Thorne is some terrible QB and he's the reason Auburn was bad last year is such horseshit. You can tell who actually didn't watch Auburn last year by who regurgitates that narrative.

[@connorchandler4284]

Yeah, it’s hilarious when people judge something off of a stat line that isn’t just dependent on one player. The receivers dropped 6 passes in the UGA game that hit them square in the hands. We would have one that game had they caught half of them.

[@autk]

Apologists with head in the sand, go back and watch the games, he wasn't good and that's being kind, and no it wasn't everyone else's fault and Monty...he was MID to less than, bailed on clean pockets, ran from ghosts and failed to see wide open receivers in every game, he's got to do better significantly, judgement and decision making was his Achilles heel.

[@GruntStyleChris]

Bobo was terrible.

[@jakepadgett5569]

Hokanson saying Peyton is very smart is not accurate. He can’t get through his progressions worth a shot. He reads the field so slow . He misses and doesn’t find wide open receivers at times. I’m shocked he’s a coaches kid.

[@buddyskinner1633]

PT was getting rushed by the defense immediately and his receiver(s) weren’t getting any separation. Hopefully those two things will change and then perhaps he’ll have more time to go thru progressions. Let’s be fair w/PT’s performance last season.

[@jakepadgett5569]

@@buddyskinner1633that was the case sometimes. There were also many times that the pocket was clean but he wasn’t getting Through his progression. Many times he couldn’t even get to his 2nd read much less the 3rd or 4th. He got stuck on that first read for 3-4 seconds many times while another receiver was running wide open. If you break the film down you will know what I’m talking about.

[@jakepadgett5569]

I’d rather have Riley Leonard and pay him instead of paying for all of the other portal guys we got combined. Give me the stud quarterback instead of buying some d line depth and a decent receiver.