Hugh Freeze’s deliberate approach to the quarterback position with regards to the transfer portal has finally paid off.

Auburn landed its portal quarterback on Friday, as former Michigan State signal-caller Payton Thorne announced his commitment to the Tigers. Thorne, who entered the portal on the final day of the post-spring window on Sunday and penned a farewell to the Spartans on Thursday, will come to the Plains with two years of eligibility remaining; he’ll be a fifth-year senior this fall with a COVID season of eligibility still at his disposal.

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The 6-foot-2, 210-pounder is a former three-star dual-threat prospect who started all 12 games for the Spartans last season. Thorne is a 60.9 percent career passer who has thrown for 6,494 yards and 49 touchdowns in 29 games, with 26 of them coming starts for Michigan State. He’s one of the program’s career leaders in passing touchdowns (fourth), completion percentage (fifth) and passing yards (sixth), and he has five games with 300-plus yards through the air.

Thorne veraged 7.5 yards per pass attempt for his career and has 46 touchdowns against 21 interceptions the last two seasons while completing 61.5 percent of his passes for 5,911 yards.

He’ll join a quarterback room that features returning starter Robby Ashford, who started the final nine games of 2022, and redshirt freshman Holden Geriner, as well as an incoming freshman, Hank Brown.

Tom Green is an Auburn beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Tomas_Verde.