Robby Ashford, the former Auburn and Hoover High School quarterback, is transferring to Wake Forest, he announced to ESPN. This move marks Ashford’s fourth college program in six years, a testament to his collegiate journey since graduating from Hoover in 2020.
Ashford’s college career began at Oregon in 2020, but he didn’t see any game action during his two seasons with the Ducks. He then transferred to Auburn in 2022, taking over as the starting quarterback in Week 4 after an injury to TJ Finley. He started eight games for the Tigers in 2022. In 2023, after the arrival of Payton Thorne, a transfer from Michigan State, Ashford started only once in ten games before departing Auburn. In 2024, he served as the backup quarterback at South Carolina, appearing in eight games and starting one due to an injury to the regular starter.
Ashford’s decision to join Wake Forest is driven by the program’s new direction under head coach Jake Dickert and offensive coordinator Rob Ezell. “Just what Coach Dickert is building, and his vision for the program and wanting to win now,” Ashford explained to ESPN. “And the opportunity to come in and be the guy.” With the departure of sixth-year senior Hank Bachmeier, Ashford sees a clear path to a starting role with the Demon Deacons.
Throughout his collegiate career, Ashford has showcased a dual-threat ability. In 30 games, he’s completed 51.8% of his passes for 2,082 yards and 11 touchdowns, while also adding 1,154 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns, averaging 4.8 yards per carry. His experience and athleticism make him a valuable addition to the Wake Forest program. The transfer mirrors the itinerant career of his former Auburn teammate TJ Finley, who has played at LSU, Auburn, Texas State, and Western Kentucky before recently transferring to Tulane.