Auburn football: Ranking Tigers’ starting quarterbacks since Cam Newton left the Plains
By Rob Maxwell
2. Jarrett Stidham (2017-)
By the numbers: Jarrett Stidham completed 246-of-370 passes (66.5 percent) for 3,158 yards, 18 TDs and six interceptions He also ran for 153 yards and four touchdowns.
RELATED: You won’t believe how many SEC QBs Sports Illustrated ranked ahead of Stidham
FlyWarEagle analysis: After transferring from Baylor, Stidham came to Auburn, beat White in the battle to be starter and threw for the second-most yards in a single season in school history (Dameyune Craig). He also led Auburn to a pair of wins against No. 1 teams (Georgia and Alabama) and to the SEC Championship Game. When Stidham was on, the offense was fun to watch again. For the first time since Nick Marshall stood in the shotgun, Auburn had a down-field passing game. Add in a combination of short and intermediate throws and the offense opened up for the running game.
You could argue that Stidham deserves top billing in this ranking. For now, let’s give it one more season of elite-level play. Stidham was not perfect in 2017. Far from it. He had his four worst games in Auburn’s four losses last season. The Tigers had a spot in the College Football Playoff within reach, but let it slip away. Stidham needs to be better in 2018 — and there’s no reason to believe he won’t after a season on campus working with his receivers and offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey.
A similar season likely elevates him to No. 1 on this list. A championship-level, Heisman-contending season could cement his spot alongside (or just behind) Newton.