With quarterback Jeremy Johnson struggling, Auburn might be forced to look at other options to lead the team going forward.
When asked if receiver Jason Smith could see snaps as a wildcat quarterback, Auburn offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee replied, “Anything’s possible.” Whether the answer served as filler or foreshadowing, Smith has experience at the quarterback position, where Auburn has struggled mightily this season.
Smith played his high school football at McGill-Toolen High School, where his senior season saw him rack up 35 touchdowns (19 passing, 16 rushing) and 2,415 yards of offense. McGill-Toolen went 11-1, and Smith was awarded Offensive Player of the Year by the Mobile Press-Register. He spent the 2014 season in the junior college ranks as the starting quarterback for Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. He threw for 1,566 yards and 18 touchdowns, and he scored 10 more times on the ground.
Smith has demonstrated his explosiveness with the Tigers, most notably with a 56-yard touchdown catch against Louisville that was called back because of a holding penalty. Besides that negated explosive play, he has two catches for 11 yards, but the coaches are impressed with his athleticism.
Head coach Gus Malzahn said on his weekly radio show on Sept. 14 regarding Smith potentially getting snaps as a wildcat quarterback, “We definitely played around with that in the spring.”
In April, Smith said that he expects to receive playing time in the wildcat position at some point in the season. “Every time I touch the ball, I think about breaking it,” he said. “Even if it’s blocking, any way I can help the team, that’s what I’m going to do.”
Auburn’s offense is in dire need of some help. The Tigers have just one first-half offensive touchdown this season, which came on a 25-yard drive against Louisville after a turnover. Auburn averages 329.3 yards per game, good for 13th in the SEC and 113th in the FBS.
A running threat behind center is desperately needed by Auburn’s offense, and Smith could provide that spark. Starting quarterback Jeremy Johnson has 21 carries for 59 yards in three games. He scored on a 65-yard draw play in the Tigers’ 45-21 loss to LSU, but besides that play, his season totals are 20 carries for negative-6 yards.
The 6-foot-1-inch receiver taking snaps from the wildcat could improve Auburn’s read option attack, which was dominant in 2013 and 2014 with Nick Marshall at quarterback but has made little impact this season. Smith has a similar build to Marshall and the speed to potentially prove an effective weapon under center.
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