A lot of focus this offseason and into the start of the schedule is on Bo Nix and his progression as both a passer and leader for the Auburn offense under new head coach Bryan Harsin and offensive coordinator Mike Bobo.
Likely to be the starter for the third straight season, Nix is still looking to break out for the Tigers after a mediocre sophomore season in which he threw just 12 touchdowns to seven interceptions.
According to Pro Football Focus, that trend continues this season for Auburn’s passing game and Nix.
The bad news is that Auburn will likely have one of the worst passing offenses in the SEC this year. Running back Tank Bigsby, the nation’s top returning back in our 2021 preseason rankings, can only carry the entire offense so far. The Tigers ranked fourth-to-last in the SEC in successful pass play rate in 2020. Their top three wide receivers from that group all took off for the NFL, too, leaving quarterback Bo Nix, who owns a middling 66.2 passing grade for his career, with no proven option to throw to.
The departures of Seth Williams, Eli Stove and Anthony Schwartz has left a void in receivers that Nix has had a bond with over the past two seasons. During the annual A-Day Spring Game, the quarterback seemed to find Elijah Canion the most, including on a touchdown pass in the back of the end zone.