Last weekend, the Auburn football team suffered a brutal blow to their 2024 season, losing at home to the California Golden Bears 21-14. Despite being double-digit favorites, the Auburn Tigers never got their offense going, with quarterback Payton Thorne throwing a career-worst four interceptions. In the fallout of the loss, Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze opted to bench Thorne in favor of redshirt freshman Hank Brown for this weekend’s tilt against the New Mexico Lobos.
Brown played like an elite SEC quarterback during his first career start, albeit against New Mexico. Brown went 17-of-25 for 235 yards and four touchdowns. Auburn football fans felt a new breath of life enter their program following Brown’s performance, excitedly jumping to social media.
Auburn Football Fans Praise QB Hank Brown
According to Auburn football insider Justin Hokanson:
Hank Brown’s first career start will look like this: 17-25 for 235 yards and four touchdowns. He went 9-11 in the second half.
Brown, a redshirt freshman from the Lipscomb Academy Mustangs in Tennessee, earned his first college start on Saturday after fellow passer Payton Thorne’s continued struggles led to his benching. Brown played turnover-free football, tossing four touchdowns and averaging nearly ten yards per pass attempt. On the season, Brown is now 20-of-30 for 331 yards and six touchdowns. He has yet to throw an interception.
A three-star prospect from the 2023 class, Brown went 7-of-9 passing for 132 yards as a true freshman last season. Brown played his high school football under former Baltimore Ravens Super Bowl-winning signal-caller and quarterback guru Trent Dilfer. He tallied 3,264 yards and 47 touchdowns as a senior. His Auburn football predecessor, Payton Thorne, threw just 21 touchdowns to 14 interceptions in 15 starts. As a result, Auburn fans were overjoyed by his performance, especially with the Tigers pulling off a 45-19 victory:
Hank Brown is single-handedly revitalizing the Auburn fanbase.pic.twitter.com/SGIILVlnAV
— Taylor Korn (@TaylorKornTNR) September 14, 2024
Are we ranked first yet?
— Graham Carr (@grahamcarr2) September 15, 2024
This is what Hank Brown gives you consistently. Gunslinger. #auburnfootball @thewarrapport pic.twitter.com/zIQfzHq0VO
— Mike G. (@mikegittens) September 15, 2024
It’s criminal Hank Brown just now started playing
— Auburn Einstein 🦃 (@AuburnEinstein) September 15, 2024
wow … why would even be a doubt … barring injuries Thorne shouldn’t see the field again
— Chris Kelly (@Ckelly2022) September 15, 2024
Did pretty great! I think we got our starter😎
— Atmospheric Daft (@AtmosphericDaft) September 15, 2024
QB1 Confirmed ✅ HANK BROWN pic.twitter.com/JcPq6bMcPd
— Ace 🦅 (@AceWDE) September 15, 2024
If only Hank Brown would have played last week. We could be 3-0 right now.
— TD (@twd0002) September 15, 2024
This is the year. Hank Brown has improved so much under this new offense. He’s focused. He’s having fun. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s a dark horse for the Heisman.
— Salty Barner (@SaltyBarner56) September 15, 2024
This is the year. Hank Brown has improved so much under this new offense. He’s focused. He’s having fun. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s a dark horse for the Heisman. https://t.co/6mfbd2IKBY
— Auburn Memes (@AuburnMemes) September 15, 2024
Hank Brown is really made me proud of him like tbh he basically show what’s he can do like he show up and show out like I know we play New Mexico Lobos but Hank step up show his case as QB1 status I would feel comfortable wit him going into SEC play but WDE 🦅
— YBN🦅 (@Wunna_Wrld) September 15, 2024
I need to say this, Hank Brown should be the QB1 moving forward.
— Gerlie (@kagwangaka) September 15, 2024
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