We’re taking a look at each position group as Auburn prepares to open spring practice on Feb. 27. The first of an 11-part series looks at the quarterbacks.

For the second offseason in a row, all eyes will be fixated on Auburn’s quarterback room.

Such is the nature of the most important position on the field. That attention has only amplified this offseason after an oftentimes underwhelming 2022 for the position and an offseason coaching change that saw the program tap Hugh Freeze as head coach and Philip Montgomery as offensive coordinator — with well-respected quarterbacks coach Kent Austin also on staff as an analyst.

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With that trio of coaches at the helm, the hope on the Plains is that Auburn will get its quarterback play back on track. The big question this spring is whether that quarterback is currently on the roster—or whether Freeze and Co. will explore transfer options in the summer. As it stands, Freeze and Montgomery are eager to get to work with Auburn’s three returning quarterbacks from last season — Robby Ashford, T.J. Finley and Holden Geriner — to see what kind of progress each can make with a clean slate and a new system.

Projected depth chart:

Robby Ashford, redshirt sophomore

T.J. Finley, senior

Holden Geriner, redshirt freshman

Departed: Zach Calzada, transferred to Incarnate Word; Trey Lindsey, transferred to Albany.

Due to arrive in the fall: Hank Brown, three-star 2023 signee.

Outlook: How much improvement Auburn’s offense can make in Year 1 of the Hugh Freeze era will hinge on how much the Tigers can get out of their quarterback. Freeze and Montgomery have track records of developing quarterbacks and adapting their schemes to fit their personnel. This spring will provide a first look for both when it comes to Auburn’s trio of returning quarterbacks in Ashford, Finley and Geriner.

“I’m excited to get in there and work with those guys,” Montgomery said. “Yes, I’ve watched the tapes. I don’t want to judge them off the tape parts of it. I want to be able to get in a room and kind of go through what we’re going to do and how they fit within that and how this offense will mold around their strengths and weaknesses. Then, we’ll be able to truly evaluate them, not only as we go through spring ball, but all the things that lead up to spring ball and those things afterwards. I think we’ve got a lot of good talent in that room, and it’s about getting those guys kind of locked into what we do and how we do it, and then truly being able to evaluate from that standpoint.”

Ashford returns as the frontrunner for the starting job after starting nine games last fall and finishing the season as QB for Auburn. The former Oregon transfer and Hoover native took over early in the year following a shoulder injury to Finley and never really relinquished the reins of the offense. In his first year of on-field action, Ashford was uneven but showed flashes of potential both with his legs and his arm (his touchdown strike in the Iron Bowl certainly caught Freeze’s attention) during the 2022 season. He completed just 49.2 percent of his passes and threw as many interceptions (seven) as he did touchdowns, but he also displayed athleticism and dynamism at the position, rushing for 709 yards and seven more touchdowns while playing behind an offensive line that didn’t always give him the cleanest or longest-lasting pocket.

Behind Ashford is Finley, the former LSU transfer who earned the starting job during fall camp last year. Finley started the first three games of the season before his campaign was derailed by a shoulder injury. Even when healthy, Finley didn’t put up assuring numbers within Auburn’s offense. He completed 62.3 percent of his passes for 431 yards, one touchdown and four interceptions on the year while appearing in four games and spending some time away from the team late in the season.

Then there’s Geriner, the former four-star prospect who was the first major commit for former head coach Bryan Harsin. Geriner appeared in just one game last season while redshirting and attempted just three passes in his limited action.

Auburn’s coaches will spend the spring evaluating that trio firsthand and see what kind of progress each makes. Whether Ashford, Finley or Geriner are the answer at the position remain to be seen, as Freeze sought out a quarterback during the first transfer window and hasn’t ruled out exploring options during the May transfer window if necessary. Until then, all eyes will be on the Tigers’ three current quarterbacks to see what kind of strides each can make during spring practice.

Up next: Running backs.

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