Why you should be thinking about Auburn football in July
By Rob Maxwell
1. Jarrett Stidham
Remember Week 2 last season when Stidham threw for 79 yards and was sacked 11 times against Clemson? Of course you do. We’ve all tried to forget that performance.
Raise your hand if you thought that performance could evolve into 451 passing yards, 3 TD passes and a rushing TD in wins against then-No. 1 Georgia and Alabama?
Made the decision to stay at Auburn. We have unfinished business and I’m excited for what the 2018 season holds! War Eagle, Auburn Family! pic.twitter.com/JVrpqPl8De
— Jarrett Stidham (@Jarrett_Stidham) January 6, 2018
Stidham had offseason surgery on his non-throwing shoulder, went through 7-on-7 drills at the spring game and will be 100 percent when fall practice begins. With a season and offseason of working with his receivers, Stidham is projected to have a big season. After throwing for 3,158 yards, he’s the program’s second 3,000-yard passer and first to return the season after hitting that mark.
The anticipation should rival what Auburn fans expected from the 2014 offense with Nick Marshall returning as the starting quarterback. But that season ended 8-5 and was off to a stumbling start with Marshall suspended Week 1 against Arkansas (a win behind a big Jeremy Johnson performance). In Auburn’s four regular-season losses, the Tigers turned the ball over 12 times (they had 20 for the season).