Auburn Football: Offensive Depth Chart Projections – Quarterback

Aug 30, 2014; Auburn, AL, USA; Auburn Tigers offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee (left) high-fives quarterback Jeremy Johnson (6) after a touchdown as head coach Gus Malzahn celebrates in the background against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Jordan Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Shanna Lockwood-USA TODAY Sports

Jeremy Johnson

For most teams, replacing a two-year starter like Nick Marshall would be extremely difficult. But most teams don’t have a player like Jeremy Johnson ready to step in.

Simply put, Johnson is one of the most talented quarterbacks in the SEC – if not the nation. The 6-foot-5, 230-pound, rocket-armed signal caller isn’t as fast as Marshall, but he’s not a statue and has more touch on his passes than Marshall did.

Johnson is also more experienced than most QBs that served as a backup for the past two seasons. The Montgomery, Alabama native had plenty of opportunities to play as a freshman and sophomore and has even started three games for the Tigers.

Interestingly enough, Johnson is likely to become the first quarterback to start back-to-back season openers behind center for Malzahn since he became a college coach in 2006.

Across two seasons, Johnson has 858 passing yards with nine touchdowns and two interceptions and has completed 73.1% of his 70 career passes. As a sophomore in 2014, Johnson completed 28 of 37 (75.7%) passing attempts for 436 yards and three touchdowns without an interception.

UPDATE: Is Jeremy Johnson a 2015 Heisman Trophy Candidate?

And as smooth as the transition should be with Johnson taking over for Nick Marshall, the offense could look a lot different in 2015.

“We’re definitely going to emphasize the pass game more,” co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach Dameyune Craig said in January. “That means the ball will be spread out a little bit more than it has in the past. I think the receivers will prosper from Jeremy Johnson’s emergence as quarterback next year. I’m excited about it, the receivers are excited about it and I think the fans are excited about this new era in Auburn football.”

At Tulsa in 2007, Malzahn helped quarterback Paul Smith amass 5,065 passing yards and 47 touchdowns. The following season David Johnson threw for 4,059 yards for the Golden Hurricane.

Auburn has a lot of talent at the running back position, so it’s not likely that Jeremy Johnson puts up video game numbers quite like Smith and David Johnson did for Tulsa, but it’s very possible that the rising junior breaks a few school records and emerges as one of the best quarterbacks in college football.

Next: Sean White