Payton Thorne opens up about his MSU departure

Michigan State fans have heard all about why Keon Coleman left, but Payton Thorne has finally opened up about his decision to transfer.

Michigan State fans finally get a glimpse into the Payton Thorne decision to transfer.

After an underwhelming season last year, many Michigan State fans demanded a change. The most common request was at the quarterback position. Those fans got their wish as Payton Thorne, a two-year starter for the Spartans entered the transfer portal, eventually ending up with the Auburn Tigers.

Just this past week we heard the some of the first public comments from former Spartan wide receiver on his decision to leave and now this time it was Thorne’s turn to talk.

In one of his first public interviews since moving on from East Lansing, Thorne joined the On To Victory podcast to talk about the process.

For those that want the cliff notes without needing to watch the interview, we’ll provide the information most likely of interest to MSU fans.

“If you would’ve asked me five days before I entered the portal if I was transferring, I would’ve asked you what you were talking about,” Thorne said when asked about his decision to enter the portal.

He’d go on to say “there was a series of events that happened that brought me to the decision and it all happened really quick.” Thorne didn’t elaborate on what any of those “things” were.

Since he decided to enter the portal, there’s been much speculation that a part of the reason for his decision was because Mel Tucker wouldn’t assure him that he had the starting job. While this theory remains complete speculation as of now, the timing suggests it could’ve been a factor. Thorne was a two year starter for the Spartans and it’s understandable that he’d want assurances of a starting role. Tucker is notorious for saying each player has to earn their spot. Coach Tucker has lost players because of this mentality. He has been on record saying his philosophy is “compete to play, compete to stay.”

With Thorne coming off a down year, Tucker had already made it publicly known that the quarterback position, like all others needed to be earned and was up for grabs.

Thorne would go on to talk about Mark Dantonio being the one that recruited him to Michigan State. He says Dantonio drew comparisons of him to Kirk Cousins. “I came in with a goal of breaking all of his records,” Thorne said.

Perhaps notably the most intriguing part of the interview is when Thorne says “weighing the pros and cons (of staying at Michigan State or transferring to Auburn) it wasn’t close and that’s what brought me to Auburn.”

Again, Thorne didn’t weigh in on what those pros and cons were directly. At another point in the interview Thorne talked about the difference in playing for a defensive minded head coach like Mel Tucker and his excitement of playing for an offensive minded staff like Auburn’s. Perhaps this is what he’s referencing but nonetheless, Michigan State fans won’t take a liking to the perceived shot at the program.

As the Spartans prepare to move forward with a new QB1, this will all prove to become quickly irrelevant. Now that MSU fans have heard some of the reasons behind the two most surprising moves of the offseason, we can put it behind us and rally around the guys that are proud to wear green and white.