Ad Disclosure
As Auburn QB competition continues, Gus Malzahn taking extra precautions
By Keith Farner
Published:
One live practice in the spring is all the Auburn quarterbacks will get to prepare for Oregon and potentially win the starting job.
Auburn coach Gus Malzahn revealed that plan on Tuesday that Joey Gatewood and Bo Nix would be held out of live contact drills. They’re each sharing first-team snaps in all situations.
This competition is arguably the most watched position battle in the SEC, and Malzahn has already commented on the “desperation” each has shown to win the job early in the preseason.
Their performance has already caused Malik Willis to transfer as Auburn looks to replace two-year starter Jarrett Stidham.
Gatewood’s only game experience came in a Music City Bowl blowout win over Purdue, when he attempted just one pass but had 28 yards on three carries. He was limited for part of 2018 with a thumb injury. Nix is the son of former Auburn quarterback Patrick Nix, and Malzahn’s most-decorated quarterback signee as head coach. He was rated as the nation’s No. 1 dual-threat quarterback in the recent class by the 247Sports composite rankings of major recruiting sites.
As we were leaving practice, Bo Nix took the first rep in a red-zone passing drill. Joey Gatewood took the first snap earlier in a zone-read drill.
So… both? https://t.co/6wy3WXs7zF
— Justin Ferguson (@JFergusonAU) August 6, 2019
Auburn quarterbacks Joey Gatewood and Bo Nix will not go live during Thursday’s scrimmage or at any time during this fall, Gus Malzahn said.
— Josh Vitale (@JoshVitale) August 6, 2019
Auburn HC Gus Malzahn said the quarterbacks will not go live at any point in fall camp. The Tigers did that for one scrimmage in the spring.
— Justin Ferguson (@JFergusonAU) August 6, 2019
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
