Preseason articles, talking heads on ESPN and analysts across the nation were all saying the same thing prior to Auburn’s season opener.
Jeremy Johnson was going to be a star.
He had only really played in mop-up duty and in one half against Arkansas in 2014, but the flashes of brilliance he exuded during those opportunities had all the promise in the world.
Yet, somehow, he’s been nearly the opposite in the three games he's started seanthis season.
Johnson has been plagued by atrocious decisions in the pocket, choosing to ignore blanketed coverages on his receivers, or he’s just plain not seeing them. He constantly looks flustered under pressure, dancing around the pocket instead of trusting his instincts. His six interceptions through three games are tied for the most in the nation with Austin Appleby of Purdue, a team that has been and will be sitting in the cellar of the Big Ten for the foreseeable future.
Johnson was anointed the starter after A-Day in April, and Malzahn didn't shy away from his decision--for a while.
Then, following Auburn's 45-21 loss to LSU, in which Johnson committed two more turnovers, Malzahn stunned everyone and announced Johnson wouldn't be starting this week.
Enter Sean White.
The 6-foot redshirt freshman out of Hollywood, Florida, will be making his first collegiate start--and taking his first snap--against the Mississippi State Bulldogs after overtaking Johnson as the starting quarterback.
"Sean White is a guy that has gotten a lot of reps," Malzahn said. "He has responded very well in practices and in scrimmages. We feel like he needs a shot right now and we have a lot of confidence in him. He is our starting quarterback going into this game; we are going to get behind him, and I know his teammates will also. He is a talented young guy and we are excited to see what he can do.”
White was a four-star recruit out of University School of Nova South in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He was named the MVP of the 2014 Under Armour All-America Game, as well as the MVP of the 2013 Elite 11 camp, where only the top quarterback prospects in the nation are invited to compete.
In his senior year of high school, White threw for 2,239 yards and 29 touchdowns, while only throwing six interceptions--the same amount that newly-benched quarterback Jeremy Johnson currently has this season through only three games.
All eyes will be on White now, and it's up to him to make sure the pressure and hype that got to Johnson doesn't get inside his head as well.
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