Auburn football has been known for years for their rushing attack and a hurry-up offense that put defenses in fits. Those Auburn offenses were most dangerous when led by a mobile quarterback. With that said, those days have been gone for a long time.
Auburn has left something to be desired on offense for the last three years – at least. Even last year, the first under head coach Hugh Freeze, the Auburn offense was lackluster in times when it should have been stellar. However, the 2024-2025 season has a lot of excitement surrounding the offense due to receiving their best wide receiver recruiting class ever, a dynamic duo returning at running back, and a fifth-year senior quarterback.
For this preview we will look at the Auburn offense position-by-position. That’ll start with the quarterback, going to running back and finishing with the wide receivers and tight ends.
Quarterback
Quarterback is the most important position in football. It is also going to be the most important position for Auburn football this year.
The Auburn offense has been limited by QB play for so long that fans have forgotten what good play looks like. It’s been 14 years since the days of Cam Newton; yet the good news is that Auburn does not need Newton-level of QB play to have success.
If Auburn’s signal callers can perform well, it will unlock the offense and allow this team to go farther. And that starts with Payton Thorne.
In essence, Thorne just has to play like the Thorne from Michigan State. Yet in his only year at Auburn, Thorne threw for 1,755 yards with 16 TDs and 10 interceptions. However, at MSU, Thorne had two years with 2600+ passing yards, 19+ TDs and 11 or fewer interceptions. If he does this for the Auburn offense it will be the visible difference in winning nine or 10 games instead of seven or eight.
How are Thorne and the offense going to do this? With a significantly improved supporting cast.
Running Back
Auburn’s backfield is led by another fifth year senior in Jarquez Hunter. Hunter was touted as a more explosive back than former teammate Tank Bigsby. However, due to a lack of quality offensive line play that explosiveness was hardly on display.
In 2023, Hunter had 909 yards with seven touchdowns on the ground. Yet with a better offensive line, he should perform at even greater levels. Having other weapons in the Auburn offense that can perform well will also help take the focus off Hunter.
Jarquez is not alone in the Auburn offense this year, either. He is joined by junior Damari Alston and sophomore Jeremiah Cobb. Alston had 320 yards rushing last year while Cobb had 172 in his freshman season. They have the potential to be a three-headed monster in the Auburn offense.
The Auburn Tigers were also expecting to have Brian Battie, a transfer running back out of USF, but he was tragically shot during the offseason. While he is recovering, he will not be available to the team this year.
Wide Receiver
This position group is the most exciting position for the Auburn offense. It’s also the most exciting recruiting class at the position in Auburn football history.
Cam Coleman, KeAndre Lambert-Smith, Perry Thompson, Bryce Cain, Malcolm Simmons, and Robert Lewis were all added through recruiting and the transfer portal. The reports out of fall camp is that all of them are going to make a significant impact at Auburn this year.
Lambert-Smith is the transfer that is most intriguing. In his final year at Penn State, Lambert-Smith hauled in 53 receptions for 673 yards. He can likely match or surpass this at Auburn given the offensive firepower.
The other receiver that will put the nation on notice this year is Coleman. The true freshman is one of the best recruits in Auburn history. He stands at 6 feet 3 inches and runs like a gazelle. Coleman makes the type of catches that leave fans in awe.
Also returning to the Auburn offense is Camden Brown and Caleb Burton III.
The talent accrued in this wide receiver room is why Thorne will be the key at the QB position. These weapons should be able to unlock the Auburn offense.
Tight End and Offensive Line
The tight end position belongs to Rivaldo Fairweather, the senior. Last year he was a huge piece (literally and figuratively) in the passing game. At 6 feet 4 inches he had 394 yards and six touchdowns last year at Auburn. Fairweather will likely be in rotation with fellow senior Luke Deal.
Deal is 6 feet 5 inches tall and has shown flashes in the passing attack. There are plenty of younger tight ends on the roster, but none have made enough of an impression yet.
The biggest problem for the Auburn football team has been along their offensive line. The last handful of coaches prior to Freeze put little thought into the development in the trenches. Because of that, the offense struggled mightily.
However, there are now 18 total offensive lineman on the Auburn football team. With a mixture of freshman and upperclassmen, existing players and transfers, this position group has been built up by Freeze and his staff. If they play well, the rest of the team will succeed as a whole.
Recruiting Roundup
Since our last article, Auburn hosted Big Cat Weekend, an annual recruiting weekend that has yielded huge results for Auburn football, and this year was no different. Since Big Cat Weekend the following players have committed to Auburn:
- five-star DE Jared Smith
- four-star ATH Derick Smith
- four-star LB Shadarius Toodle
- four-star LB Jamichael Garrett
- four-star EDGE Hezekiah Harris
- four-star Safety Anquon Fegans
- four-star CB Blake Woodby
- four-star DE Antonio Coleman
- No. 2 punter in the Nation John Alan McGuire
- three-star S Wayne Henry
That is 10 recruits since July 27, and it has given Auburn a top 5 class in 2025 – and the No. 1 recruiting class in 2026. Coach Freeze is dominating in state recruiting right now, and it is exciting for Tigers fans.
Conclusion
The Auburn offense has the potential to surprise. However, there are two keys to this happening. Those are Thorne at quarterback, and the offensive line. If the latter protects the former, then it will allow Thorne to fully unlock the weapons he is surrounded by.
The freshmen wide receivers and transfers have unlimited talent. They just need someone capable of getting them the ball. Thorne can do this, but will it be consistent, and successful?
Ultimately, if the offensive line plays well then Hunter and the stable of running backs will also play well. So while there is hope for the Auburn offense this season, the Tigers need to put it all together in order to have a successful year.
