AUBURN, Ala. - While Jarrett Stidham's "summer to remember" included cross-country travel for engagements as a football camp counselor, his most important engagement was his own.
When Stidham proposed to fiancé Kennedy Brown, whom he met at Baylor, on July 6 at Lake Brownwood in Texas, he had the element of surprise in his favor.
"It was a cool experience and something we'll always remember," Stidham said.
Auburn's quarterback hopes to similarly catch defenses off guard this season, especially now that he's earned additional authority to change play calls, based on what defensive alignments he observes.
"I'm extremely excited about it," Stidham said. "With playing for a year, having experience, I just know a little bit more football this year. I know what to expect and I know what the coaches are looking for. I'm really anxious to get out there and have more control this fall camp and moving into the season. I think it will give a really good dynamic to the offense and hopefully make us a little bit better."
"He's an NFL-type quarterback," Auburn coach Gus Malzahn said. "He's like a coach on the field. From a coach, you're on the sideline, and you trust the guy, you give him more freedom."
"It obviously played a big role in me coming back this year," Stidham said. "It's going to open up some things in the offense, I think, and put more on my shoulders, which I know I'm ready for. I want to be able to own up to the decisions on the field that I make. If I make the wrong call, then I make the wrong call. I learn from it. No one's perfect. There were a lot of times last year where I probably made the wrong throw. You just have to learn from it. You've got to take it as a learning experience and move on."
While leading Auburn to the SEC West title as a sophomore in 2017, Stidham led the SEC in completion percentage (66.5) with 3,158 passing yards and 18 touchdowns. Declining to enter the NFL Draft, Stidham returned to Auburn for his junior season and graduated in May.
"I feel like a veteran," Stidham said. "Started every game last year. Really just looking forward to becoming more of a veteran this year and being the leader of the team and trying to lead those guys in every way I can.
"I think this year, we already have an idea what kind of offense we want to be. I think, fall camp, we'll be able to establish that at an early point and really hit on it from there on out."
After leading the SEC in completion percentage as a sophomore in 2017, Jarrett Stidham returned to Auburn, delaying his NFL career. Photo: Wade Rackley/Auburn Athletics
Stidham arrived at Auburn in January 2017, a five-star transfer who sat out 2016 after starting three games at Baylor as a freshman in 2015.
"I knew he was an extremely talented young man who can do a lot of different things," Malzahn said.
"His toughness factor. In this league, you've got to be tough. The way he overcame adversity. There were a lot of expectations early, a lot of pressure early. He was growing as our offense was growing, then he got in a rhythm and we started playing at a high level. He has a year of experience under his belt in this league. He's a different person. He's in a different spot as far as his comfort. That really carries over to the rest of the offense and the team."
After getting engaged earlier in July, Stidham represented Auburn at SEC Media Days in Atlanta. Photo: Todd Van Emst/Auburn Athletics
Stidham displayed his toughness by rushing for touchdowns in Auburn's November wins over top-ranked Georgia and Alabama.
"When you're playing the top defenses, your quarterback has to run just enough," Malzahn said. "After the Arkansas game, he made a couple plays with his feet and that's when everything changed for us. He's a smart guy. He knows how to protect his body and protect himself, but you've got to run just enough, and he did that in the biggest games.
"Championship teams, usually the quarterback is mentally and physically the toughest guy on the team with everything that he has to go through. You've got to be one mentally tough dude to be successful in this league and have a chance to have a championship, and nobody understands that but the quarterback who's going through it."
Stidham rushed for touchdowns in Auburn's wins over No. 1 Georgia and Alabama en route to the SEC Western Division championship. Photo: Anthony Hall/Auburn Athletics
While Stidham's rushing ability catches defenses out of position, it's his passing that powers Auburn's offense.
"He can make all the throws," Malzahn said. "Matter of fact, he makes some of the tough throws look really easy."
In his first Iron Bowl, Stidham completed 21 of 28 passes for 237 yards while rushing for 51 yards on 12 carries in Auburn's 26-14 win.
"I didn't really know what to expect," Stidham said. "The people in Alabama are crazy about their football. I'm from Texas, so I thought everybody was pretty crazy about our football. Alabama's a little bit different story. People tried to prepare me for it. I don't think you can be prepared for it until you actually experience one.
"I think it's the best rivalry in college football. A lot of history. A lot of great players have come through the rivalry. It's a cool thing to be a part of and obviously this last year's Iron Bowl will be something that I remember forever."
A Texas kid who became an Auburn man, Jarrett Stidham and the Tigers will kick off preseason camp on Aug. 3.
"I love Auburn," he said. "I love everything about it. I'm an alumnus now, which is kind of weird to think. It's a good place with a lot of good people. I'm just trying to do my job and make friendships and make lifelong relationships along the way. Help the team win, help these guys win ballgames and do whatever I can."
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: Follow @jeff_shearer