Sean White opens up about being named Auburn's starting QB
One of the many quarterback battles in the SEC came to an end when Auburn named Sean White the team’s starter on Thursday.
The sophomore quarterback started five games for the Tigers in 2015 but missed some time due to injury. He won the job over senior Jeremy Johnson and junior college transfer James Franklin III.
“It feels really good,” White said after Thursday evening’s practice, according to scout.com. “I feel blessed to be in this position and I feel responsible to lead this team against Clemson. I’m happy that Coach put that responsibility on me and my teammates believe in me. I feel like they have a reason to believe in me. I think we’ll be ready to go come Saturday.”
Now that he’s the leader of the offense, White knows he has to take on a more vocal role and become a player his teammates can depend upon.
“It’s conscious effort for sure,” White said, per scout.com. “It’s also been kind of natural. I’m more comfortable and I’m older. I don’t really have to think about today I really have to go out and lead this team. I just go out there and take control because you feel like you are out there you are the older guy, the quarterback. You got your receivers and offensive line looking to you.”
Quarterback competitions are believed to bring out the most in those participating, but there are some drawbacks as well. While sharing snaps, a player doesn’t get the same number of reps to prepare for the season as an established starter might.
Regardless, White believes the offense is starting to build momentum with the season just around the corner.
“Sure, anytime in the preseason it’s not going to be 100 percent, in mid-season form,” White said. “We have come leaps and bounds from the spring then the beginning of fall camp until now. We are really starting to put it together. By next week, we should really be gelling pretty well.”
Auburn faces a tough test right out of the gate when it welcomes Clemson on Sept. 3.