Auburn’s Thorne Brings Confidence Ahead of SEC Matchup Against Aggies

As Texas A&M prepares to face Auburn at Jordan-Hare Stadium, one of the Southeastern Conference’s (SEC) seasoned quarterbacks, Payton Thorne, becomes a focal point for the Aggies. Thorne, who is in his second season with Auburn, brings starting experience from his previous tenure with Michigan State, promising a tough challenge for the Aggies with his play-calling abilities.

In analyzing the upcoming game, Texas A&M’s defensive coordinator, Mike Elko, offered insight into Thorne’s performance. Elko was notably impressed by Thorne’s competence and skill. He observed Thorne’s confidence in their recent matchup against Mississippi State, an aspect he said stood out to him.

«I think he has the talent and arm talent to make explosive plays,» Elko commented. «Last week, I think he looked like he was coming off a bye. Maybe a little fresher, little healthier. Really confident in where he wanted to go with the football. Stepped into throws and delivered really well. I think you’ve seen that at times.»

During the game, Thorne managed to complete 22 of his 32 pass attempts, amassing 286 yards and securing five touchdowns. This performance, coupled with a bye week, likely boosts Auburn’s offensive confidence as they face their final stretch of two games.

Furthermore, Elko highlighted Auburn’s statistical strengths, noting their offensive success. Auburn ranks seventh in offensive yards per game and sixth in passing yards within the conference. Running back Tank Bigsby has also excelled, surpassing the 1,000-yard mark for the season, showcasing the potential of a team currently standing at 4-6.

While turnovers have been a critical issue for Auburn, Elko emphasized that playing mistake-free football is crucial for their threat as a team. «They’ve been very productive on offense all year… They had some turnover issues in critical moments in some of their early games,» Elko noted. «I think that just shot them in the foot. But when you put the tape on, play in and play out, it’s another really talented SEC football team. It will be a big challenge for us.»