Jarrett Stidham named Auburn's starting quarterback

Jarrett Stidham named Auburn's starting quarterbackJarrett Stidham named Auburn's starting quarterback

Aug. 14, 2017

By Jeff Shearer
AuburnTigers.com

AUBURN, Ala. - Jarrett Stidham has won Auburn's starting quarterback job, coach Gus Malzahn announced Monday.

"Just told team Jarett Stidham will be the starting QB," Malzahn tweeted. "The team is excited for Jarrett and ready for the season."

Stidham, a 6-3, 214-pound sophomore transfer from Baylor, was the offensive MVP in Auburn's A-Day game, completing 16-of-20 passes for 267 yards, adding a 1-yard rushing touchdown after recovering a fumble.

"He [Jarrett Stidham] has done a lot of good things," Malzahn said Saturday after Auburn's second scrimmage, in which Stidham threw a touchdown pass. "He's a talented young man."

"I'm a big competitor, really in anything," said Stidham during Auburn's spring practice in March. "It's just the nature of who I am."

As a freshman starter at Baylor in 2015, Stidham completed nearly 69 percent of his passes and threw 12 touchdown passes with two interceptions.

"I'm trying to step up and be a leader as fast as possible," Stidham said in March. "It comes with time, to gain the trust of the guys on the team. But it's doing the little things that I think will hopefully stand out.

"I'm just trying to stay true to my personality.I just try to be a people person. Be a light in the room, whether we're in meetings or the weight room working out or on the field."

Stidham, the nation's No. 1 dual-threat high school quarterback at Stephenville in Texas, worked on developing timing with Auburn's receivers during spring, summer and preseason workouts.

"The more practice you have with those guys, the better it's going to be with timing and with the routes," Stidham said in March. "So far, so good. Those guys really know how to play. I get them the ball and let them do what they do."

Throughout preseason camp, Malzahn has indicated his satisfaction with Auburn's depth at quarterback.

"I've been very impressed with Sean White," said Malzahn of the junior who has started 16 games, completing 61 percent of his passes. "If you ask Chip [Lindsey, offensive coordinator], Sean's like a coach on the field. He knows the offense inside and out."

Freshman Malik Willis has also impressed.

"He's a guy I'm really happy with," Malzahn said. "He's been throwing the ball very well. He can extend plays. He can really run. He's one of our best athletes on our team. The depth at our quarterback position has really been confirmed, and I know Chip would say the same thing."

Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: Follow @jeff_shearer