It doesn’t seem like Auburn has a tough decision at quarterback in 2015.
Jeremy Johnson is widely projected as the Tigers’ choice to replace the departed Nick Marshall and has been for a while.
As the junior has been patiently waiting his turn, Johnson completed 73.1 percent of his passes, threw for 858 passing yards, nine touchdowns and two interceptions in two seasons at Auburn.
Two of those touchdowns and 243 yards came from his first-half performance in the season opener against Arkansas in 2014, where he was 12-of-16 passing.
The No. 5 overall quarterback in the class of 2013, according to Rivals, ran a version of coach Gus Malzahn’s offense at Carver High School in Montgomery for two years
Johnson then came to the Plains, where he played backup quarterback to Marshall for two years.
“It’s very valuable, the fact that he’s been in our program for two years,” Malzahn said. “He ran a very similar offense in high school, so he understands everything that goes with it. He got a lot of practice reps the last two seasons. We have a lot of confidence in Jeremy, but he’s going to have to go out there and win the starting job.”
While he is the only quarterback on the roster with starting experience, Johnson is competing with redshirt freshman Sean White to start at quarterback.
“Jeremy and Sean have been solid,” said offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee. “They haven’t made a lot of mistakes, they know the offense and they’re doing what they’re supposed to do. I just want, in the last six practices, those guys to both take the next step and go from just being steady to being great.”
Malzahn said during spring practices the quarterbacks are getting equal reps, but added that Johnson will have to compete for the position.
“For Jeremy, this is his third go-around, third year with us, so the expectations for him are extremely high,” Malzahn said.
The 6-foot-5 Montgomery native packed on 10 pounds in the offseason and had his best scrimmage Saturday, April 11, in Jordan-Hare Stadium, Malzahn said.
“I think Jeremy had a better scrimmage than the first scrimmage,” Malzahn said. “He’s had a really good week. Sean is doing a solid job too.”
Johnson said he is looking forward to becoming a leader for the team, and, now that his time is here, he is looking to win the starting job.
“I’m looking forward to bringing everybody in to where if I say we’re going to move right, the whole team moves right,” Johnson said. “That’s the type of leader I’m trying to become for this team.”
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