Redshirt freshman quarterback Hank Brown excelled in his first career start over the weekend for Auburn. Posting a dominant and efficient performance in the Tigers’ 45-19 win over New Mexico in Jordan-Hare Stadium.

Many were critical of the Tigers following their Week 2 upset loss to Cal at home, including college football analyst Paul Finebaum. But after head coach Hugh Freeze‘s change at quarterback seemingly paid off this weekend, Finebaum changed his position.

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“See, now I’m gonna defend Hugh Freeze,” Finebaum said on McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning. “Now we know why Hugh Freeze didn’t go into the portal, he knew he had a great backup, didn’t he? So I was really happy about that, I thought he played with such amazing poise. I wish I could say the same about the rest of the team.”

Brown completed 68% of his passes for 235 yards and four touchdown passes with no interceptions in the first start of his collegiate career. Showing traits that Finebaum wishes would permeate to the rest of the Auburn team for the sake of the Tigers.

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“They still look undisciplined at times,” Finebaum added. “I’m a little concerned about the defensive line, I’m concerned about a lot of things. But the thing that I’m less concerned about is the quarterback and that’s the most important.”

While Brown did look outstanding on Saturday, he also faced a winless Mountain West team that won’t compare to the SEC opponents on Auburn’s schedule. A performance that should come with tempered expectations for the redshirt freshman, but likely won’t.

“We should, but we’re not going to. Because I think Auburn fans were just desperate to cling to something and that’s really the nature of fandom. And I certainly understand, I know you well enough, I know Cole well enough,” Finebaum said to McElroy and Cubelic. “You guys analyze what you know, what you know going into the game, most of us are just reactionary. So good luck trying to calm everyone down right now, Auburn fans feel great and I’m all for it.”

Brown will face his first true test this Saturday when Auburn hosts the Arkansas Razorbacks. A game kicking off at 3:30 p.m. ET that serves as a major signifier of what Brown and the Tigers could amount to in the SEC this season.

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