'I'll be ready' - Supportive Sean White prepares for new role

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Aug. 16, 2017

By Jeff Shearer
AuburnTigers.com

AUBURN, Ala. - Sean White knows he's one play away from resuming his role as Auburn's starting quarterback.

"I'll be ready to go," White said. "I'm behind Jarrett 100 percent while he's in there, but I know things happen. Hopefully, they don't. I like Jarrett. But if I have to go in there, I'll be ready to go, and I've got to prepare every week like I'm the starter."

After starting 16 games the past two years, White enters his junior season as Auburn's No. 2 quarterback.

"I've been down a similar road before, starting out second string my freshman year," White said. "I just know you can be called on at any time and you've got to be ready."

On Monday, hours after Auburn named Jarrett Stidham the starting quarterback, White tweeted "All in!"

"I didn't want people to think I was upset," White said. "Of course, I wanted to be named the starter, but that was the decision they made, and I'm behind Jarrett 100 percent and I'm behind this team 100 percent. I'm just ready to do whatever I'm asked to do, whether it's help prepare Jarrett, whether it's go in there and play if needed, I'm all in for this season."

With his toughness and accuracy ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" White's 63.9 completion percentage in 2016 led the SEC ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" he earned the admiration of Auburn fans. White is fully recovered from an arm injury sustained in the Sugar Bowl that limited his participation in spring practice.

"I feel good. 100 percent. The same or better than I could throw before," he said "Feels good to be back in action, back full speed since camp started, thanks to Dr. Andrews and the training staff for that. I'm just excited to be out here playing.

"I've had good ups. I've had low downs. I feel like I've been through a lot of stuff, and it's made me a better quarterback, already. There's no substitute for experience. I know this upcoming season, I'll get even more experiences, and I can definitely use all of them to my advantage."

Auburn coach Gus Malzahn says White, with his experience and playbook knowledge, is "like a coach on the field." White intends to share that knowledge with Stidham at appropriate times.

"I don't want to be in his ear too much, but if I see something, I'm definitely going to tell him," White said. "I think we can work together. Watching film, preparing in practice. I'm not hoping for Jarrett to do poorly at all. I want him to succeed, and I'm going to do everything I can do to help him succeed and help our team win.

"We've got all the talent. We've just got to put it all together. We've got great coaches, good players at every position, depth. It's in our hands. We've just got to go out there and make it happen and work hard in practice so that we're prepared and ready to go."

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