One of the many questions that every leader of a college football program needs to answer every preseason is, “who will be the starting quarterback?”
Some seasons, the quarterback situation is resolved much sooner. However, for Auburn, the race is still between four feasible candidates, and is about a week away from concluding.
Head coach [autotag]Bryan Harsin[/autotag] told the media that quarterback play was more consistent than in past practices when he spoke to the media on Tuesday. He also went on to share his thoughts on each candidate.
First, he mentioned how great of a day that Texas A&M transfer [autotag]Zach Calzada[/autotag] had.
“I thought (Calzada’s) footwork was good and he threw the ball well,” Harsin said Tuesday. “Like everybody else, he had a sense of urgency on the field. That’s where our quarterbacks each and every day, they’ve gotta show up and have great days because if they don’t the rest of us really feel that.”
After Calzada, most feel that [autotag]TJ Finley[/autotag] would be next in line to win the job after starting the final three games for Auburn in 2021, filling in for the injured [autotag]Bo Nix[/autotag]. However, Oregon transfer and former Hoover High School standout [autotag]Robby Ashford[/autotag] has made a case for himself to earn the job.
If everybody’s covered, (Ashford) is gonna have a chance to go out there and make a play with his feet. I also think he’s throwing the ball better,” Harsin said. “His decision-making in the pass game, I thought he had a couple throws the other day that were really special that he put into some windows. Then just his command of the offense, too. Calling plays, making checks, audibles, all those things, He’s got a better feel for those things right now.”
The decision to name a starting quarterback appears to be a tough one to make according to Harsin. He says that he and his offensive staff will continue to take the time that they are allowed before the season-opener on September 3 to make a final call.
“We’ve got more time. It’s not a finished product right now,” Harsin said. “For everybody, we all want to know, but coaching that position and doing this for a few years now, you know we have time to keep building through some things and you’ve just gotta stick with one thing for a while until they get it and then move on to the next.”
Auburn will continue preparing for the 2022 season for the next three weeks. The season-opener against Mercer is set for Saturday, Sept. 3 at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
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