There are quite a few quarterback competitions going on around the SEC this spring, but few programs can claim to be a legitimate three-man race.
Auburn is one of those programs, as returning quarterbacks Sean White and Jeremy Johnson duel it out with transfer John Franklin III for the right to be the first in line when the Tigers take on Clemson in the season opener this fall.
On Saturday, Gus Malzahn put those quarterbacks to the test with a 100-play scrimmage.
Reps were split between the stadium and indoor facility due to weather, but most all of the reps were handled by the first or second team players on the depth chart, according to reports.
The quarterbacks went live, meaning they took the non-contact jerseys off, and John Franklin III appears to have received the most reps.
Here are the highlights from what went down, courtesy of various Auburn media outlets:
Auburn junior college transfer John Franklin III had more reps than other QBs, coaches have less film, wanted to see more of him
— WarEagleExtra (@wareagleextra) March 26, 2016
Auburn went live, full contact w/ QBs, Jeremy Johnson, Sean White & John Franklin III split reps with 1st/2nd team
— WarEagleExtra (@wareagleextra) March 26, 2016
Auburn's Gus Malzahn: 'We'll learn more today from a quarterback standpoint than we did in the first seven practices.'
— Auburn Gold Mine (@AUGoldMine) March 26, 2016
QB John Franklin III 'got quite a bit of work, but that was by design,' said Gus Malzahn. 'Made a really good run,' and that was for TD
— Auburn Gold Mine (@AUGoldMine) March 26, 2016
Malzahn on JF3's decision making: "He's still learning the offense. He's eager to learn everything inside and out, but it's a process."
— AUBlog (@AUBlog) March 26, 2016
JF3 put the ball on the ground once on an exchange. Also overthrew a couple deep balls, per Malzahn.
— AUBlog (@AUBlog) March 26, 2016
All three QBs got some "good work." Malzahn said got some "good information."
— Dana Sulonen (@DanaSulonen) March 26, 2016
Jeremy Johnson and Sean White look like veterans? "They're very comfortable when they're out there." https://t.co/Ms1HRXhypa
— Brandon Marcello (@bmarcello) March 26, 2016
JF3 been rotating with 1 & 2s at practice, along with the 3s. Won't say if QBs will go alive again. But was glad they did today.
— Dana Sulonen (@DanaSulonen) March 26, 2016
Auburn RB Jovon Robinson says John Franklin III "had a long run that surprised me and probably surprised everybody in the stadium".
— Matthew Stevens (@matthewcstevens) March 26, 2016
Sean White had a 75-yard pass to Roc Thomas today in scrimmage, says Jovon Robinson. https://t.co/Ms1HRXhypa
— Brandon Marcello (@bmarcello) March 26, 2016
Nick Cole is a former print journalist with several years of experience covering the SEC. Born and raised in SEC country, he has taken in the game-day experience at all 14 stadiums.
