Auburn football’s transfer portal exodus has begun, with two players who never got a fair chance under coach Hugh Freeze.
On December 1, Hank Brown and Holden Geriner both entered the transfer portal just hours after Auburn’s 28-14 loss to Alabama in the Iron Bowl. With both quarterbacks now leaving, Auburn’s QB room is significantly thinner for next season. However, Hugh Freeze can take solace in the fact that Deuce Knight, a key recruit, has not de-committed—at least not yet.
Brown and Geriner’s departures highlight how both players were never truly given a fair opportunity under Freeze. Brown made his start against Arkansas, completing seven passes but throwing three interceptions before being pulled, despite the game being largely decided. Freeze didn’t give Brown a full shot to prove himself in an SEC game.
Geriner, while showing potential with his arm, struggled to move in the pocket and couldn’t keep up with SEC-level pressure. After Harsin’s firing, Geriner never had a real chance to compete for the starting job under Freeze, though his decision to stay allowed him access to Auburn’s top-tier facilities and resources. Still, his path to a starting role was never made clear.
While these losses aren’t devastating due to their limited playing time, both quarterbacks possess strong arm talent and could find success elsewhere. It’s possible they could return to Auburn, as entering the portal doesn’t mean they’re gone for good.
These departures, however, underscore the lack of development at the quarterback position over the past two seasons behind Payton Thorne. Other programs may benefit from the experience these players gained in practice against an SEC-caliber defense.
