With Auburn transitioning away from spring football, questions surrounding the quarterback position have been fulfilled with expectations of surrealism. With transfer quarterback Jarrett Stidham taking the presumed reins and freshman Malik Willis establishing himself as a solid backup, offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey is in possession of talented foundations.
An entirety of Jordan-Hare listening to the bells, the conversation surrounding Sean White grew in nervousness and anticipation. The sophomore, who is recovering from a broken forearm, has yet to participate in an intensive quarterback competition.
The response and reaction to a 16-for-20, 267-yard performance from Stidham welcomed a promotion to the transfer talent in eyes of many fans. Downfield accuracy that has been absent for some time was exhausting in its failures, yet uncontrollably exciting in new success.
“For sure, he had a good day,” White said. “Watching today, obviously, I would’ve loved to have been out there.”
White has been in a backup position before. As a freshman, he watched the Heisman-hyped Jeremy Johnson campaign fall sour with a tumbling win over Jacksonville State as the No. 6 team in the country. White took over a program consumed with aggravation and frustration -- 2015 was meant to flirt with a national championship.
Auburn finished 7-6, White quarterbacking a Birmingham Bowl victory over highly touted NFL prospect Paxton Lynch and Memphis. Following a 1,679-yard season filled with injury and position carousel rides, it was assumed that White would continue his success into his junior year.
With the arrival of Stidham and Willis on campus and John Franklin III rightfully stepping aside, things were different -- it meant more competition. It was hoped that, with an introduction to passing-oriented Lindsey as the new offensive coordinator, pro-style White would thrive.
“Coach Lindsey has brought a lot of stuff I really like, it’s a little more open I would say,” White said. “He’s helping my mechanics, I think I’ve definitely gotten better with the deep ball this spring and it’s something I’ll continue to work on.”
It hasn’t been easy transitioning back into a backup position, but White remains headstrong.
“I’ll just take it as it comes, really,” White said. “As of right now, all I can do is focus on myself and be ready to compete, get healthy and just go out there and play -- go from there.”
White sustains his composure and intermittently presents that he “won’t worry about all the outside stuff,” focusing ahead to what the fall brings and how the season shapes his future.
“I’m still there for all the walkthroughs and all the film, meetings and stuff,” White said. “I understand it 100 percent, when I get a few reps in fall camp and stuff in scrimmage that’ll probably help me out more.”
Anything that occurs outside of the football field, White seemingly pays little to no attention to it. Speaking with his hands in Italian fashion and a solemn, concentrated stare in his face indicated a desire to push ahead and get the job done.
On whether he finds distraction in Stidham’s success, White suggests “maybe earlier on in [his] career, maybe.”
“At this point, I’ve just learned to really tune it out,” he continued. “It doesn’t really affect me at all or anything.”
Wherever White stands on the depth chart come Sept. 2, the Auburn football program will have levels of competitive drive that easily stand up against any top-tier competitor.
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