Gus Malzahn praises Bo Nix for holding it together despite 'tough times' in 2019

Bo Nix started for the Auburn Tigers at quarterback as a true freshman in 2019, and he had an up-and-down season.

He started out with a win over Oregon and ended the regular season with a win in the Iron Bowl over Alabama, but there were some tough times in between those games.

During his press conference on Saturday, Auburn coach Gus Malzahn praised his young quarterback for holding himself together despite facing a historically tough schedule:

Gus Malzahn on Bo Nix losing some swagger last year: "If we're real with ourself, as a true freshman quarterback, he played the toughest schedule in college football in the last 10 years… As a freshman QB he had tough times, but I was surprised he held himself together"

— Tom Green (@Tomas_Verde) September 12, 2020

Indeed, games against Oregon, LSU, Georgia, Alabama, Florida and Texas A&M in the regular season (all of whom were ranked when they played Auburn) weren’t easy for the true freshman.

Will he be able to take a step forward in 2020? We’ll find out starting on Sept. 26 against Kentucky.