Auburn football: Ty Thompson calls his backup QB Bo Nix a ‘blessing’

Former Auburn football QB Bo Nix is realizing that the grass isn’t always greener after taking to the transfer portal at the conclusion of the 2021 season.

Ty Thompson sits ahead of him on the Oregon QB depth chart, and Nix may have given up a chance to lead a team he was seemingly always destined to play for in one of the great comeback tours of 2022, aka the Chinese zodiac’s ‘Year of the Tiger’.

Then again, perhaps Nix wasn’t a culture fit for the new Auburn football locker room, one reportedly closer than the 2021 version was by the AU beat’s collective account.

Perhaps there was also a greater purpose to Nix’s Oregon move than winning a Pac-12 title.

Such a purpose could have been to guide the way for the Gilbert, Arizona product Thompson. The Ducks’ QB1 had nothing but positive things to say about the former 5-star AU recruit (via 247Sports):

"“He’s been a big blessing for me the past couple of months. I’m very grateful for the things he’s done especially for this team and myself. Everyone likes to pin the quarterbacks against each other especially if we’re competing. It’ll never be like that with me and Bo, and even Butters [Jay Butterfield]. He’s done a great job of leading the team, of coming in humble and as a work harder. I have nothing but great things to say about Bo.”"

Bo Nix gave up a chance to be Auburn football QB1 to back up Ty Thompson

The Tigers starting QB job was Bo Nix’s to lose. T.J. Finley definitely didn’t earn it with his play once Nix went down and the LSU transfer took over under center. Dematrius Davis may have never been a true threat to the position. Holden Geriner wasn’t going to usurp Nix during his hypothetical remaining years left on the Plains.

Who knows if Zach Calzada or Robby Ashford even make their way to the Plains if Nix doesn’t take his own talents elsewhere.

If the Pinson, Alabama product is happy being a backup in a completely different part of the country than he grew up in, all the power to him.

But there will be plenty of Bo Nix-related what-ifs in 2022 should the QB position be a problem for Auburn at any point.