Auburn football: Pros and cons of playing Dematrius Davis in final games

Things took an unexpected turn for Auburn football after a weekend on the Plains that took far more than it gave. The Tigers gave up a historically bad loss to Mississippi State in Jordan-Hare, and both starting QB Bo Nix and starting kicker Anders Carlson suffered season-ending injuries.

With Nix on the sidelines for Auburn football’s final two matchups, first-year head coach Bryan Harsin named LSU transfer TJ Finley the official starter for this weekend’s road game in Columbia, South Carolina. But what does that mean for freshman quarterback Dematrius Davis?

A 4-star recruit out of high school, Davis has yet to see the field this season. Could that change with Nix’s injury? Per AL.com, Harsin and offensive coordinator Mike Bobo haven’t gotten that far:

"“We haven’t had those conversations,” Harsin said when asked if Davis could factor into the gameplan moving forward."

While thrusting a brand new quarterback into the Iron Bowl may not be the best idea, giving Davis a chance to take some snaps in this weekend’s matchup could be valuable experience for the young athlete who is looking to make an impact for the Tigers in the coming years. And, with just two regular-season games and a bowl game, Davis is at no risk of losing his redshirt status.

Whether we like it or not, Auburn football’s season changed last weekend, and the stakes are significantly lower, which could allow Harsin to take a few more chances with who he chooses to put on the field. However, it’s still vitally important that the Tigers make the best of these last two games.

Playing Dematrius Davis could send a message to future recruits about early impact, but it may also indicate that Harsin has given up on this season and is already looking towards the future. Davis may not play a lot in the last few weeks of football season, but it’s possible he could get the chance this weekend.