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Auburn, Texas A&M feel quite different at quarterback after spring games
By John Crist
Published:
There were four spring games played this past Saturday in the SEC, and two of the four programs on display have a quarterback competition.
The top of the depth chart is nothing to be concerned with in the Magnolia State, as Shea Patterson of Ole Miss and Nick Fitzgerald of Mississippi State — even after an atrocious 4-interception day — are the clear starters.
However, the same can’t be said of the other two teams from the SEC West that wrapped up spring ball, Auburn and Texas A&M. The Tigers started three different QBs this past season in Jeremy Johnson, Sean White and John Franklin III, while the Aggies for the most part rode with graduate transfer Trevor Knight.
Auburn fans were ecstatic with what they saw at Jordan-Hare Stadium, although A&M supporters were puzzled as they exited Kyle Field.
Jarrett Stidham — arguably the most intriguing newcomer in the conference for 2017 — passed his first test as a Tiger. The transfer from Baylor was 16-of-20 for 267 yards, and his performance was as impressive as the statistics suggest.
Fifth-year coach Gus Malzahn dealt with a maddening signal caller situation a year ago, but those problems appear to be long gone. Johnson failed to live up to the hype as a recruit. White has a limited ceiling. Franklin has always been more runner than passer. As a result, Malzahn’s offense was overly dependent on the ground assault.
Stidham looked at ease in the pocket and delivered the ball downfield with the kind of arm strength and accuracy not seen on The Plains in a while.
For his effort, Stidham (above) was named offensive MVP. He found Nate Craig-Myers — he’s ready to explode after a frustrating freshman campaign — for a 50-yard gain. He hooked up with Darius Slayton for a 46-yarder, too.
This is an Auburn offense that finished dead last in the league last year with only 86 completions of 10-plus yards. With Johnson, White and Franklin at the controls, there were just two gains of 50-plus through the air, as well. That tied for 12th with LSU, another squad desperate to add some juice to the passing game.
White, who didn’t play as he returns from a broken forearm, has to see the writing on the wall. He has no plans to skip town, though.
“The goal this spring was to have an understanding of the base offense,” Stidham said, according to the school’s official website for athletics. “Throughout the spring, I wanted to get more comfortable with it. Today we ran what we thought we were good at and moved the ball well. I feel really comfortable with it so far.”
Back in College Station, coach Kevin Sumlin — curiously, he didn’t speak to the media afterward — is anxious to stop the revolving door he’s had at the game’s most important position since Johnny Manziel left early for the NFL.
With Knight having already come and gone after one year, the only experienced passer on the roster is Jake Hubenak. He’s currently competing with a pair of freshmen, one coming off a redshirt (Nick Starkel) and the other straight out of high school (Kellen Mond). There were more downs than ups for the trio.
Hubenak (below) was a pedestrian 8-of-13 for 47 yards without a touchdown or interception. Realistically, he’s a backup at best.
As for Starkel, he started with a bang but ended with a thud. When it was all said and done, he was 10-of-27 — considering the fact that he was 3-for-3 on his first drive, he got progressively worse — for 174 yards with 1 TD and 0 INTs.
Mond was hamstrung by the format to some degree, as his running skills got negated by the two-hand-touch treatment that field generals get in spring games. Still, he only connected on 4-of-12 throws for 114 yards with a score and a pair of picks. While he has more upside than Hubenak or Starkel, Mond has a lot of work ahead of him.
Christian Kirk, who will be the Ags’ primary target no matter who wins the job, did his best to put a positive spin on the situation.
“I think they played relatively well, probably one of their best performances that they had during the spring,” Kirk said, according to the school’s official website for athletics. “I think they really settled in. Some of the earlier scrimmages that we had, I think it was getting used to new wide receivers and just getting the timing down, settling in with the offensive line, just making the reads.
“Today they kind of put it all together. Kellen did have two picks, but there isn’t anything he can do about that. Those were both tipped balls, great plays by the DBs. Overall, I thought Nick, Kellen and Jake all played really well. I’m excited where they’re at this end of the spring.”
Alabama — big surprise, I know — is the defending champion in the division, defeating Auburn and Texas A&M by an aggregate score of 63-26 last season. The Tigers and Aggies combined to go just 21-of-50 through the air for a measly 280 yards.
More often than not, it takes a Herculean effort under center to topple the Crimson Tide. Auburn last beat ‘Bama in 2013, when Nick Marshall threw for 97 yards, ran for 99 more and totaled 3 TDs. A&M upset the Tide in 2012, as Manziel racked up 253 yards passing, rushed for an additional 92 and found the end zone twice.
Remember, David slayed Goliath by striking him in the head with a stone. Auburn appears to have its stone slinger. A&M is still looking.
John Crist is the senior writer for Saturday Down South, a member of the FWAA and a voter for the Heisman Trophy. Send him an e-mail, like him on Facebook or follow him on Twitter.
John Crist is an award-winning contributor to Saturday Down South.
