Auburn 2019 spring football preview: What’s the solution at QB?
A lot of coaches find themselves on the hot seat, but not many double-down the way Auburn’s Gus Malzahn did this offseason.
Following a year in which his team lost five games and his offense struggled to score points consistently, Malzahn went out and hired a relatively unknown offensive coordinator and then promptly reinstalled himself as the playcaller.
The top storylines each team faces this offseason going into spring games.
We break down which programs have the best outlook at quarterback over the next three seasons.
Thanks to the transfer of Jalen Hurts, Oklahoma and Lincoln Riley are moving up in the Way-Too-Early Top 25.
It’s a bold move for a coach who once said he needed to abandon calling plays to focus on the overall health of the program. What’s more, he’s opting to take on the additional responsibility during a spring and summer in which he finds himself without a returning starting quarterback and has a young group of skill players.
Maybe returning to his roots will be just the spark the program needs. Maybe not. But whatever happens from here — good or bad — there’s no more blaming the other guy. Chip Lindsey and Rhett Lashlee are no longer the fans’ whipping boys. It’s all on Malzahn’s shoulders as he attempts to reestablish Auburn as a contender in the SEC West.
2018 record: 8-5
Spring practice start date: TBD
Spring game date: April 13
Biggest offseason position battle: Malzahn tried to ensure a seamless transition at quarterback from two-year starter Jarrett Stidham but ultimately swung and missed at graduate transfers Kelly Bryant, Jalen Hurts and Austin Kendall. Now, instead of bringing in someone with a wealth of experience, he could wind up starting a true freshman. Bo Nix, the son of Auburn great Patrick Nix who enrolled in the spring, might be the front-runner in a four-man race that includes Malik Willis, Joey Gatewood and Cord Sandberg.
Strength heading into spring: There’s no question this honor falls to the defensive line. In fact, you could have said that two months ago, when it appeared that Derrick Brown was a lock to enter the NFL draft as a projected first-round pick. Marlon Davidson, Nick Coe, Big Kat Bryant and T.D. Moultry were a solid group to build around even without their All-SEC teammate. Then, Brown surprised everyone by announcing he’d return to school where he’ll continue to headline the Tigers’ defense.
Question heading into spring: Will Auburn’s run game bounce back? Because it needs to, regardless of who winds up at quarterback. Last season was the first time since 2009 that Malzahn failed to field a 1,000-yard rusher, and you saw what it did to the offense. It missed having a difference-maker at the position. JaTarvious Whitlow showed flashes of brilliance as a freshman, rushing for 787 yards, but he needs to take the next step in his development and find a way to stay healthy. If he does, he could be the workhorse in a rotation that will include Kam Martin and Shaun Shivers.