Greg McElroy questions the level of progression Bo Nix can make during this unique offseason
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Many on The Plains are anticipating Bo Nix to make a massive jump in his second collegiate season but ESPN college football analyst Greg McElroy isn’t so convinced that will happen.
It’s nothing against the reigning SEC Freshman of the Year, Nix threw for 2,542 yards with a 16-6 touchdown-to-interception ratio and added another 313 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on the ground during the 2019 season for the Tigers, but the reality facing all young players is that losing spring could prove to hinder their progression many are expecting on the field.
While Nix certainly had his moments during his freshman season, the Auburn quarterback completed just 57.6 percent of his passes during his debut in 2019, which leaves plenty of room for improvement heading into 2020.
During a recent appearance on Birmingham-based WJOX 94.5 FM radio show “The Roundtable,” McElroy was asked if he believes Nix will make a big step forward in his second season at Auburn.
“Well, in a normal circumstance, I would say that the growth between Year 1 and Year 2 is massive – maybe as big as you have throughout the course of your career,” McElroy said on the show. “I remember as a true freshman not knowing which way the quad was and which way was Bryant-Denny. I mean, I couldn’t figure out anything. It was overwhelming. The fact that he played as well as he did is pretty remarkable but these are not normal circumstances.”
Given that this offseason has been so unique, the ESPN college football analyst believes there may be too many variables to definitively say how big of a leap any player like Nix can make away from the field.
“He lost spring ball, he lost the spring game and he’s lost valuable reps in the summer with some of his wide receivers. So, in a normal situation, I’d say expect a massive jump in production from him,” McElroy continued. “But I don’t know if any of us can accurately forecast right now just how much improvement is going to be made by some of those young players that are coming into their second year as a starter in a featured role.
“So, I wish I could tell you that I know for certain he’s gonna make a big leap, I think he’ll be a better player, I just don’t know if the leap will be as big knowing what he’s had to overcome, and the rest of his teammates have had to overcome, with coronavirus over the last few months.”
A graduate of the University of Tennessee, Michael Wayne Bratton oversees the news coverage for Saturday Down South. Michael previously worked for FOX Sports and NFL.com
