It’s been a long, long offseason for Auburn’s first-year head coach Hugh Freeze, who took over an Auburn football program with dry cupboards late last November.

Since then, Freeze has added more than 40 new faces to the program between his 20-plus transfers, JUCO products and true freshmen. And come Saturday afternoon, Freeze and all his additions will get to pull the curtain back on Auburn football as the Tigers take on UMass.

“Obviously, a lot of work goes into getting to this point, but we finally know that this Saturday will be real this time,” Freeze said in his press conference Monday. “We have to find out what the reveal party shows.”

With so many guys on the roster who have never played a game with “Auburn” written across their chest, there will be a ton of individual reveal parties Saturday afternoon. That said, here are five players to watch as they play their first game as an Auburn Tiger.

Quarterback Payton Thorne

Let’s get the obvious one out of the way first.

When Auburn gets the football on Saturday, all eyes will be on junior quarterback Payton Thorne, who is set to play in his first game at Jordan-Hare Stadium after spending the last three seasons at Michigan State.

Considering Freeze and the Tigers are set to unveil a new-look offense, which is set to be called by offensive coordinator Philip Montgomery, Auburn fans will be interested to see how it all unfolds with a new scheme and a new quarterback.

Like ESPN’s Jesse Palmer said Wednesday, historically, Auburn’s special seasons have been piloted by excellent quarterback play. That said, Palmer believed the Tigers’ ascension back to the top of the college football ranks hinges on the guy under center.

“I think the quarterback position is obviously massive,” Palmer said. “It’s critical.”

And after being named Auburn’s starter on August 17, beating out incumbent starter Robby Ashford and redshirt freshman Holden Geriner, Thorne gets his first opportunity to be that guy against UMass on Saturday afternoon.

Jack linebacker Jalen McLeod

Since transferring from Appalachian State, Jack linebacker Jalen McLeod has been a guy whose name has consistently come up when talking about the Auburn defense.

During Monday’s press conference, Freeze said McLeod was dealing with a minor injury and said he’d be questionable for Saturday’s season opener. That said, Freeze added that he wouldn’t be shocked if McLeod would be good to go.

Should McLeod see action Saturday, he’s surely a new guy Auburn fans will want to see.

“He’s a special talent, especially when it comes time to pin it back and go rush,” Auburn defensive coordinator Ron Roberts said of McLeod. “His physical toolset is pretty amazing. He’s a very talented individual.”

On August 14, junior defensive lineman Jayson Jones alluded to some of McLeod’s talents.

“He’s fast. I don’t think you understand. He’s fast. He is fast,” Jones said. “His motor is always on go. He’s going to turn a lot of heads this season.”

At Appalachian State, McLeod tallied 76 total tackles, 12.5 tackles for a loss and nine sacks in 30 games.

Wide receiver Shane Hooks

Jackson State transfer Shane Hooks garnered much of his attention after a strong showcase in Auburn’s second scrimmage of fall camp.

While Hooks hauled in a handful of receptions during the scrimmage, none were as notable as his one-handed grab in the endzone, which Freeze said likely would’ve made SportsCenter’s Top 10 had the catch been made in a game.

At 6-foot-4, the graduate transfer brings size to Auburn’s wide receiver corps. And it shows when he goes up for 50/50 balls, said wide receivers coach Marcus Davis.

“The guy is talented. He’s talented,” Davis said. “He can win the 50/50 ball. To be that big, he comes out of his breaks at a good pace. He tries to play the game physically, too. We’re glad we got him.”

Hooks will be making his SEC debut with the Tigers Saturday, which is something to keep an eye on as Freeze previously hinted to the fact that the game’s speed in the SEC could be an adjustment for guys like Hooks.

Nonetheless, if Hooks can replicate some of the things he did throughout fall camp on Saturday, he’s going to win over a lot of the fanbase.

Tight end Rivaldo Fairweather

Like Hooks, tight end Rivaldo Fairweather is another set of hands Auburn added in the offseason that we heard and saw plenty of throughout fall camp.

Fairweather, a transfer out of Florida International, was one of Freeze’s top priorities in the transfer portal after hauling in 54 receptions for 838 yards and five touchdowns in three seasons. And while it’s still unclear what the tight end’s role will be in Auburn’s new-look offense, Fairweather is undoubtedly a guy the Tigers will want to use.

“That’s a big body that can jump and run and be able to do the things that we ask them to do,” tight ends coach Ben Aigamaua said of Fairweather. “It’s huge.”

Throughout fall camp, Fairweather made some impressive, “head-tapping” catches, including an acrobatic grab in one of the Tigers’ final practices of fall camp.

Freeze came to Auburn wanting to beef up the Tigers’ receiving corps and looking to Fairweather in the transfer portal was a dang good place to start.

Defensive end Keldric Faulk

How much will true freshman defensive end Keldric Faulk actually see the field this fall? Who knows.

But if Faulk is able to live up to the hype we heard throughout fall camp, he’ll surely play a role in this year’s defense.

“First of all, as a freshman, I told him, ‘The next two years, you’re gonna be an All-American.’,” Jalen McLeod said of Faulk. “His head’s different. As a freshman, you’re thinking about playing your first year. He’s not thinking about that. He’s got a motor, too. He’s going to be good.”

Even if Faulk doesn’t secure the biggest on-field role in his first year on The Plains, if Saturday’s game against UMass goes the way many believe it might and Auburn finds itself in a position where the game is well in hand, expect to get a good first look at Faulk, who was Auburn’s top-rated recruit out of the last recruiting cycle.