Payton Thorne talks leadership as Auburn's starting quarterback
Following Coach Hugh Freeze’s starting quarterback announcement last Thursday, Payton Thorne has completed his first interview with the media. Several topics were discussed throughout the interview however, we will focus on what leadership means to the newest starter for the Auburn Tigers.
To be a solid leader on the football field takes a lot of moxie to be done well and it doesn’t happen on the field alone. It takes time on and off the field to develop relationships with your teammates, coaching and training staff, and the administrative staff as well. Payton Thorne seems to have risen to the occasion and has shown enough to prove his worth as the starting quarterback for the Tigers going into the first game of the 2023 season against UMass.
Thorne was asked directly what his view on leadership was, this is what the young man had to say; “Some guys hear the word leadership and think they have to go yell at everybody or do something crazy.” In Peyton’s opinion, “Leadership comes in different shapes and sizes. There’s different ways of doing it.” Thorne admitted that “sometimes you do have get onto guys, and sometimes you have to put your arm around a guy and whisper something to them.” This all circles back to what Peyton expressed about just “wanting to be himself,” as a new transfer to the team.
All these comments should resonate positively with the Auburn fan base, as they genuinely display a young man who understands what it takes to be an effective leader for the Auburn Tigers this upcoming season. During his interview Payton displayed poise and maturity from his demeanor with the press to his responses to their candid questions about his experience thus far on the plains.
What speaks the loudest to me was his request for a “book of faces” so he could better learn the names of all the players and staff he would be working with for the next year or possibly two. When asked about this Thorne commented that “you can’t lead within an organization if you don’t know most people’s names.”
This comment touched on the importance he placed on being respectful to all he may possibly come into contact with during his time at Auburn. This to me solidifies his character as a solid leader and a leader who fits the mold of what Coach Hugh Freeze expects of his guy under center. We are looking forward to seeing Payton’s leadership on the field here soon as the season begins against UMass.
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