Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze used social media to announce the four Tiger captains of the 2023 season. Running backs coach Cadillac Williams provided the narrative as Freeze named QB Payton Thorne, OG Kam Stutts, TE Luke Deal and LB Elijah McAllister captains.

Two of the 4 are not new to the leadership role. Thorne, a Michigan State transfer who’s been named this season’s starting QB, was a two-time captain at MSU while McAllister, a Vanderbilt transfer, captained the Commodores last season

Stutts, who will play right guard for the Tigers, is in his sixth season. Deal, who enters his fifth season, will be a key contributor at TE.

The significance of the announcement was punctuated by Williams’ emotion at being selected a Tiger captain nearly two decades ago.

“Guys sitting in these seats, many moons ago, voted for me to be a team captain, there’s nothing more special than that,” Williams said. “Two decades later, man, and I’ve still got a brick out there at Jordan-Hare for being a team captain, fellas, it never leaves you.”

Auburn opens the season Sept. 2 at home versus UMass.