Spring football is winding down at Auburn, with Wednesday’s non-contact practice and Friday’s walkthrough as the last practices before Saturday’s A-Day Game scrimmage at Jordan-Hare.

First-year head coach Hugh Freeze did his best to subdue expectations from fans showing up, hoping to find out who the starting quarterback would be. He also elaborated on what he wants to see from the quarterbacks as camp closes.

“Taking care of the ball,” Freeze said. “No. 1. Understanding situational football—it’s second-and-1, and we have an RPO throw tagged in the run, we at no point should think we have to force that just because if the picture’s cloudy, we’re calling it, hand it off. Just eliminating some of those decisions. Taking care of the ball, No. 1. Pocket presence and decision making.”

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Freeze addressed reporters on Monday with a message for supporters wanting to know if T.J. Finley, Robby Ashford, or redshirt Holden Geriner will start when the 2023 season opens.

“I want to prepare the Auburn family that we’re going to do the best we can to hopefully give those that choose to come,” Freeze said. “I hope many will come, but we’re going to give them a game that day that I hope they can enjoy but understand, gosh, we don’t know who we are offensively right now.”

Figuring out who will win the quarterback competition will likely go a long way toward defining the Tiger offense during Freeze’s first season. During last week’s media window, Geriner took first-team reps, with Finley taking second and Ashford taking third, and seeing this made observers wonder if Geriner could win the starting job. However, Freeze slowed down the praise heading into the final week of spring football.

“I think he has a real chance to be a solid quarterback. But I think the other two, again, had good days also. Better days,” Freeze said. “So, the interesting thing will be their response to the competition that’s created and that has been created, that will continue to go on.”

Ashford had first-team reps and Finley second during Monday’s viewing window for media. Freeze indicated that the quarterback competition would continue into fall camp.

“Being the quarterback, to me, at an SEC school, at a place like Auburn, carries a lot of weight with it. That weight doesn’t end when spring practice 15 is over,” Freeze said. “How does that go through summer? What does that look like in the leadership of this team? That will all play into, ultimately, who gets that first nod. It’ll be interesting to see how they all respond to that.”

Freeze ended the quarterback conversation with some positives about Finley, Ashford, and Geriner.

“Robby’s pocket presence, quieter feet in the pocket,” Freeze said. “T.J.’s playing within the system has gotten better. He’s made some accurate throws. Just sometimes, it shouldn’t have been thrown; it should’ve been handed off. This is new to him, so he’s done that. Holden’s accuracy, particularly on down-the-field throws. He had several explosives Wednesday, I think he’s improved. He’s still got to get still in the pocket, too, but he’s still young.”

Nubyjas Wilborn covers Auburn for Alabama Media Group.