Skip to content

Ad Disclosure

This article/post contains references to products or services from one or more of our advertisers or partners. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products or services.

College Football

Defensive line, running game highlight ‘vanilla’ Auburn spring game

Chris Wright

By Chris Wright

Published:

presented by toyota

Gus Malzahn opened Auburn’s spring game Saturday with a message to his quarterbacks: Manage the offense, protect the football.

Gaining first downs and putting the ball in the end zone would have been nice, too. All three struggled, early at least, in those categories.

John Franklin III took the first snaps, followed by Sean White. Jeremy Johnson eventually got work too on a day when all three quarterbacks worked with both squads.

That was the goal, Malzahn told the SEC Network.

“Rotating all three of them with the 1s and the 2s, trying to give them the opportunity to show what they can do,” Malzahn said.

White completed 8 of 14 passes for 125 yards. Franklin was 7 of 11 for 61 yards and a touchdown, and Johnson was 6 of 13 for 35 yards and a touchdown.

Here are a few takeaways in the Blue’s 19-10 victory on a day both offenses went 1-for-22 on third down and the quarterbacks didn’t do enough for one to emerge as the starter.

Malzahn not ready to pick starting QB

White had the most passing yards and biggest passing plays, but he also bobbled a snap that led to a turnover and later badly underthrew a deep pass that a defender dropped.

Franklin’s performance was tougher to grade.

He lined up exclusively in the Pistol and ran zone reads, but because he wasn’t live, he never flashed his greatest asset: his speed.

Most of his completions were on short screens, but he ended the first half with a big play that resulted in the game’s first touchdown.

Franklin lobbed a 40-yard touchdown pass down the sideline. The ball was underthrown, but Auburn’s defender mistimed his leap, allowing Marcus Davis to catch it and jog in the end zone.

Johnson was the last quarterback in and, in the first half, looked like the quarterback who lost his job last season.

He started the second half and converted a third down — Auburn’s first in 15 tries — to set up an 8-yard touchdown strike to Roc Thomas.

He later threw a perfect ball that would have resulted in a long touchdown pass, except Darius Slayton dropped it.

Overall, White looked like the better pure passer and Franklin a run-first athlete who might not be a reliable pocket passer. Essentially, they mirrored the scouting reports coming in.

The defensive line dominated

The defense controlled the game, forcing six early three-and-outs.

Carl Lawson and Montravius Adams, in particular, were unstoppable.

“Good feeling knowing he’s on our team,” Malzahn told SEC Network about Lawson.

Afterward, Malzahn told the SEC Network that it was good to see the defense “flying around” and his linebackers “playing downhill.”

Running game shows speed

Jovon Robinson ripped off a 55-yard run, H-back Chandler Cox raced 71 yards before he was caught from behind, and H-back Kamryn Pettway added a 40-yarder.

Robinson finished with 83 yards rushing on 10 carries. Pettway added 77 and Cox 72.

Auburn’s Blue team — composed mostly of starters — ran it 25 times for 266 yards. The White team ran it 34 times for 52 yards.

Daniel Carlson can kick, too

Florida’s Eddy Pineiro is quickly becoming a reality star, but Carlson kicked five field goals in the first half, including two from long range.

Chris Wright
Chris Wright

Managing Editor

A 30-time APSE award-winning editor with previous stints at the Miami Herald, The Indianapolis Star and News & Observer, Executive Editor Chris Wright oversees editorial operations for Saturday Down South.

You might also like...

2025 RANKINGS

presented by rankings

RAPID REACTION

presented by rankings