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A spirit that is not afraid

From Texan to Tiger: Jarrett Stidham relishing second opportunity to face home-state Aggies

Jarrett Stidham (8) takes in the win after the Auburn vs. Southern Miss game Saturday Sept. 29, in Auburn, Ala.
Jarrett Stidham (8) takes in the win after the Auburn vs. Southern Miss game Saturday Sept. 29, in Auburn, Ala.

While Jarrett Stidham has been leading Auburn for the past two seasons, it's important to note that the union between Texan and Tigers was a long shot not so long ago.

Out of high school, Stidham had initially committed to Texas Tech, but then decommitted to later sign with Baylor. When incumbent Bears starter Seth Russell injured his neck late in the season, Stidham took on the starting role, but he too was then sidelined due to injuries suffered to his back and ankle.

Stidham then decided to transfer from Baylor amid the sexual assault scandal that led to then-Baylor head coach Art Briles' firing. After spending a semester at McLennon Community College, he emerged as 2017's No. 1 JUCO prospect without even taking the field. 

When Stidham decided to transfer, he announced his top three schools were Auburn, Florida and Texas A&M. As his recruitment period went on, talks with A&M died down because former Aggies coach Kevin Sumlin was busy recruiting the No. 1 player in Texas, Kyler Murray.

“I haven’t talked to [A&M] much lately,” Stidham said in an interview with Aggie Sports Radio in 2016. “I don’t know what's been really going on, but we’ll just see where things kind of continue to go.”

After a six-month process, Stidham announced in December of 2016 that he would be signing to Auburn. In his first year at Auburn, Stidham led the Tigers to an SEC West championship and had stunning wins over No. 1 teams Georgia and Alabama. 

“Everything happens for a reason,” Stidham said. “I'm glad I'm at Auburn. I'll cherish Auburn forever and the people that gave me a shot to come here. I think it's worked out."

During the 2017 season, Stidham led Auburn to victory over the Aggies, throwing for 268 yards and three touchdowns in a 42-27 win. 

“It was very satisfying in College Station, just because of how the whole recruiting thing went and whatnot," Stidham said at 2017 SEC Media Days. "But honestly, I probably recruited myself to A&M a little bit harder than they recruited me. I didn't talk to coach [Kevin] Sumlin very much.”

In a key SEC West tilt against the Aggies, the Tigers hope to right the ship offensively and end the season strong. 

To Stidham, Saturday will carry more weight than that.

"I just—any Texas team, I love it," Stidham said. "I didn’t go out there, obviously, out of high school. They didn’t really recruit me as hard out of high school, because of Kyler Murray. So. I don’t know. I just like playing Texas A&M."


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