The question has dominated discussion of Auburn football since before the Tigers’ first preseason practice: Who will be AU’s starting quarterback?
For a moment on Sunday, it appeared that an answer had finally been found. When head coach Tommy Tuberville was asked if he’d chosen a starting quarterback, Tuberville told reporters to check with offensive coordinator Tony Franklin.
But Franklin, speaking with reporters for the first time in more than a week, didn’t have anything new to report. Sophomore Kodi Burns and junior Chris Todd are neck-and-neck, as they’ve been since spring practice.
“The only news I’ve got is that both of them will play,”
Franklin said, repeating a point Auburn’s coaches have emphasized throughout the preseason. “As far as who will start, I don’t know.”
Franklin isn’t in a hurry to make a decision. Though the Tigers have practiced more than 25 times since Aug. 2, he is still waiting for signs of separation between his two quarterbacks.
“It will be situational,”
he said. “It could be that if something happens dynamic between now and Saturday, that one of them emerges and shows some quality we haven’t seen that makes him the guy, that could be the case too.”
Tailback Ben Tate believes one quarterback has already made a convincing case for the No. 1 job, though Tate isn’t saying which one has impressed him most.
“I think the best person for the offense, that’s who we should play,”
Tate said. “Everybody’s got their own opinions on it — I’m not really going to say mine."
“I think everybody can pretty much see who should be the guy out there. It doesn’t really matter, as long as our team wins the national championship.”
Walk-on Durst pulls ahead in punting race: While the competition at quarterback has garnered plenty of attention, the battle for the starting punter’s job has proceeded with relatively little fanfare. But the battle between with sophomore Ryan Shoemaker and redshirt freshman walk-on Clinton Durst has been a tight one.
Shoemaker was the No. 1 punter last season, averaging 42.4 yards per punt and earning second-team all-Southeastern Conference honors. He was a first-team all-conference selection this preseason.
Durst, who joined the team in spring practice, was named the special-teams MVP of the A-Day game and hasn’t missed a beat in preseason practice.
Special-teams coordinator Eddie Gran said last week that Durst was ahead of Shoemaker, and head coach Tommy Tuberville appeared to confirm it Sunday. Tuberville said Durst spent Sunday resting — like starting place-kicker Wes Byrum — while Shoemaker punted.
But Tuberville says the race isn’t yet over.
“We want it to be a fair competition,”
he said. "We’ll probably make a decision by Tuesday of this week.”
Injury report: According to Tuberville, several injured Tigers were back to work Sunday. The list included tailbacks Brad Lester (foot) and Tristan Davis (hamstring) and defensive end Jomarcus Savage (shoulder).
Wideout Montez Billings (hamstring) is “doubtful”
for Saturday’s game, according to Tuberville. The coach said Billings won’t play Saturday if he’s not back in practice by Tuesday.
Offensive lineman Bart Eddins (shoulder) hasn’t yet been cleared to practice. Tuberville said Eddins could be back sometime this week.
