Expectations are high in Auburn this year, thanks in large part to new starting QB Jarrett Stidham, who came over from the Baylor Bears.

Recently named the starter over Sean White, Stidham has impressed coaches and teammates alike this summer.

Even ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit has taken note, saying during a conference call with reporters on Wednesday that he thinks Auburn’s new quarterback can be special:

“I think there’s a little bit more evidence in my opinion with Stidham just because of what we saw him do at Baylor,” he said. “Now this is a very, very different offense than what he ran at Baylor. All I can tell you is from calling a game of his when he was down there. The kid is very athletic, not only can he throw it. I always feel like when Gus has a guy who can run it like a legitimate threat to make defenses, be aware of what he can do running the ball. It just opens up every other aspect of their attack.”

He added that he doesn’t have much insight on how Auburn’s summer camp is going, but said he wouldn’t be surprised to see Stidham have a huge year with the Tigers:

“I don’t know. I haven’t talked yet with Gus about how he’s progressing,” he said. “But I know what the kid has, as far as his ability to run and throw, I think he fits in perfectly into that offense, and with the big backs that they have behind him with Kerryon Johnson and Kamryn Pettway, this offense has a chance to be the Gus Malzahn offense, when they’re scoring 35, 40 points a game.”

Auburn opens the 2017 season on Saturday, Sept. 2, against Georgia Southern. If Stidham puts up big numbers in that game, expectations will only continue to rise in Auburn.