Auburn quarterback Sean White will not be ready to participate for the start of spring practice, coach Gus Malzahn said during the his annual trip to the Senior Bowl on Wednesday afternoon.

“Right now, we are hoping he can go some in spring,” Malzahn said, according to The Ledger-Enquirer. “I’ll have more updates when it gets a little closer.”

White broke his right forearm during a 35-19 loss to Oklahoma in the Sugar Bowl.

“I’m just hoping he gets to throw some,” Malzahn said. “I’ll have an update as it gets closer.”

In and out of the lineup with injuries throughout the 2016 season, White completed 63.9 percent of his attempts for 1,679 yards, nine touchdowns and three interceptions as a sophomore. He was easily the Tigers’ most consistent passer, but will now be pushed by an incoming transfer for the starting job under center next fall.

Jarrett Stidham, the Baylor transfer and former four-star prospect (No. 2 dual-threat from the 2015 class), got a jump start with the program during the team’s final preparations on campus for the Sugar Bowl.

“He’s off to a good start,” Malzahn said. “You can tell he’s a leader, and he’s done everything right so far.”

In 10 games with the Bears two seasons ago, Stidham tossed for 1,265 yards, 12 touchdowns (to two picks) and hit nearly 70 percent of his passes. He’s arguably the frontrunner to win the job between other scholarship quarterbacks in White, Malik Willis, Woody Barrett and Tyler Queen.

Spring practice is set to begin on Feb. 28.