Auburn Tigers quarterback Hank Brown is quickly becoming a fan favorite, not just for his play on the field but for his fittingly Nashville-born name, evoking the feel of a country music star in the making. As the Tigers move forward, it seems like Brown, under the guidance of head coach Hugh Freeze, could be forming a dynamic partnership that has the potential to fuel Auburn’s success for the long term.
In his first career start, Brown didn’t disappoint, throwing four touchdown passes with no interceptions in a commanding 45-19 win over the New Mexico Lobos. It was a performance that may not have been perfect, but certainly enough to earn him another start when Auburn takes on the Arkansas Razorbacks next week. While Freeze has been cautious about cementing Brown’s status as the permanent starter, there’s no doubt the young quarterback has made a strong case for himself.
“I think a lot of people are saying it was a great performance; I think it was a good debut, but there’s a lot of things I need to clean up,” Brown said after the game. “Me and coach obviously talked throughout the game. There’s definitely a lot of things I need to work on and not let those mistakes happen next week.”
At just 19 years old, Brown has already shown poise beyond his years. His stature on the field and impressive accuracy stood out, particularly as he replaced Payton Thorne, who lost the starting job after a disastrous four-interception performance against California. The most telling stat from Brown’s debut? Zero interceptions, a clear improvement that likely gave Freeze some peace of mind moving forward.
While Auburn’s defense had its struggles against New Mexico, allowing the Lobos to stay competitive in the first half, Brown’s steady hand on offense helped the Tigers pull away in the second half. However, Brown knows that the real tests are still to come, with SEC play looming on the horizon.
“It’s encouraging, definitely,” Brown reflected after leading Auburn to victory. “But at no point am I going to be satisfied. I’m going to go out there and work my butt off and get those mistakes out of my system so we can come back better.”
The excitement surrounding Brown is palpable, as Auburn fans chanted his name when he left the field on Saturday night. In just a short time, he’s managed to energize a fan base that had been searching for a spark after a rocky start to the season. Yet, despite the early praise, Brown remains focused on continuous improvement, refusing to rest on his laurels.
For Freeze, this decision to start the redshirt freshman is a gamble, albeit one that seems to be paying off—at least for now. Brown followed Freeze from Liberty to Auburn, and their familiarity with one another has fostered a relationship built on trust and shared goals. They both understand that while there may be bumps along the way, the potential for growth is undeniable.
Make no mistake, Brown’s journey as Auburn’s starting quarterback will have its ups and downs, but the early signs suggest that Freeze’s decision to go with the fresh face under center has struck a positive chord. With Arkansas and the SEC gauntlet ahead, the partnership between Freeze and Brown will truly be tested. If they can continue to build off this strong start, Auburn might just have found the quarterback to lead them into a bright future.
