The Auburn Tigers made a massive statement on Friday, firing one of their coordinators after a subpar 6-7 season. Per Justin Hokanson of On3 Sports, the Tigers have parted ways with offensive coordinator Philip Montgomery.
BREAKING: Philip Montgomery will not return as OC at Auburnhttps://t.co/WBooPZYaJb
— Justin Hokanson (@_JHokanson) January 5, 2024
Montgomery joined Auburn this season after eight seasons as the head coach of Tulsa. He also spent time calling plays with the Baylor Bears and Houston Cougars. However, after just one season, his tenure with the Tigers ends.
2023 Auburn Tigers: A Mess Offensively
The Tigers struggled in 2022, causing the program to clean house and hire Liberty head coach Hugh Freeze. Although Auburn took a massive stride on defense, the offensive struggles remained. Freeze brought in former Michigan State Spartans quarterback Payton Thorne via the transfer portal, but they scored just 26.2 points per game, the 74th-best mark in college football. Thorne finished the year with 1,755 passing yards and 16 touchdowns with ten picks.
Auburn ranked dead last in the SEC regarding passing yards per game while tied second for the most turnovers committed. Only Mississippi State, Vanderbilt, and Arkansas averaged fewer yards per play.
Auburn Tigers: 2024 Outlook
Hugh Freeze remains the head coach of the Tigers and last week pointed towards an open quarterback battle. Last year’s starter, Payton Thorne, will complete with Holden Geriner, Hank Brown, and incoming for-star quarterback Walker White. Thorne, Geriner, and Brown played in the team’s 31-13 Music City Bowl loss to the Maryland Terrapins. Throne struggled mightily, going 13-of-27 for 84 yards and a touchdown with a pick. Geriner didn’t far any better, completing just one of his six passes for eight yards and an interception. However, Brown played well, finishing 7-of-9 for 132 yards. Brown is a true freshman and a former three-star recruit from last year’s class.
White will join Auburn next season as a highly touted recruit. The Arkansas native is the seventh-rated quarterback in the upcoming class, per 247Sports. He picked the Tigers over the Alabama Crimson Tide and Arkansas Razorbacks. The dual-threat quarterback could earn the job as early as next season.
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