QB Payton Thorne is transferring to Auburn from Michigan

former Michigan State quarterback Payton Thorne is moving to Auburn, Announced Friday.

Thorne is a redshirt senior who entered the transfer portal on April 30, the last day of the spring transfer window. He had started at Michigan State for the past two seasons and is now giving new Auburn head coach Hugh Freese more depth at the position.

Thorne was in a quarterback battle with backup Noah Kim this offseason at Michigan State, but a source on the program said it was a surprise that Thorne entered the transfer gate. He threw for 6,494 yards and 49 touchdowns in his time with the Spartans and was very much in the running to win the starting job for the 2023 season.

For Michigan State, Thorne’s departure leaves the staff with Kim and Katin Houser as starting options.

Freeze and Auburn have quarterback Robbie Ashford, who transferred from Oregon before the 2022 season. He played in 12 games last season, throwing for 1,613 yards, seven touchdowns and seven interceptions.

Freshman Holden Gernerer is also on the list and was 190th overall in the class of 2022. Thorne adds more competition and experience to the quarterback room and gives Freeze another quarterback option to choose from.