Burns hopes to showcase talents at homecoming
AUBURN - Kodi Burns. Remember him? He's a quarterback. He even started a game. He scored against Florida. Ring a bell?
OK, here are some more hints. He was going to be the change-of-pace quarterback to Brandon Cox's drop-back passing game. Remember? Think.
He was a big-time prospect from Arkansas and one of the stars of last season's recruiting class.
He was going to be a factor in Auburn's offense.
Alas, Kodi Burns has taken only a handful of snaps, except for some fourth-quarter mop-up duty, since starting the fourth game of the season. Heck, he only took one snap in front of his family and friends in a game at Arkansas, and that play was wiped out by a penalty.
Kodi Burns shrugs at what has happened this year, but can take comfort in the fact he'll likely get a chance to pile up valuable playing time against homecoming opponent Tennessee Tech on Saturday.
With Cox nursing a sore shoulder, and Tennessee Tech coming from a lower division of college football, Kodi Burns can use the game to showcase his talents before Auburn begins looking for a new starting quarterback next spring.
So far, Kodi Burns says, "I haven't really had the chance to show what I can do."
That's because Kodi Burns says he's a passing quarterback and all that he's been asked to do lately is take the snap and run. He's 9-of-18 passing, but has only thrown one pass in the last five games.
Kodi Burns didn't play in the first two games, played quite a bit in the next two, scored a TD against Florida, but his playing time has otherwise been infrequent.. He took just one snap at LSU and was in for that play that didn't even count at Arkansas. None of that is strange in Auburn's world, especially this season when six games have been decided in the final two minutes, and where backup quarterbacks seldom play, anyway. But Kodi Burns may finally get a chance to run Auburn's real offense.
"Since I've been here it's been the other way because it's been what ever helps out the team," Kodi Burns said. "It is kind of exciting to know that if I do get my shot, I can go out there and run the regular offense."
Offensive coordinator Al Borges said he'll give Kodi Burns "a chance to do some things, run and pass; do some things that cater to his skills."
"He's getting a better and better understanding of what we want him to do. He can run some of the things that are not just shotgun quarterback runs."
Kodi Burns has received extra work with the first-team offense when practice would normally be finished.
What Kodi Burns wants to prove now is he's a complete quarterback, not some guy who has mostly "been doing draws and sweeps."
"I feel like I get my running yards out of the passing game. If somebody is not open, I can scramble," Kodi Burns said.
Kodi Burns has said all along he considers himself a passer. He's a well-rested passer.
[More at www.al.com]
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