Auburn football: QB competition truly starts when Zach Calzada returns

Auburn football fans finally got a glimpse of what has been going on in the program’s quarterback competition this weekend as three of the four contenders took to the field for the annual A-Day scrimmage.

While TJ Finley, Robby Ashford, and Holden Geriner all showed great promise on Pat Dye Field over the weekend, there is no indication that the coaching staff is any closer to choosing the starter for the 2022 season. Ashford may have outplayed Finley in the spring game, but head coach Bryan Harsin is a big fan of Finley’s leadership in the locker room.

Not to mention the fact that one contender for the coveted QB1 position hasn’t even been able to take reps, yet. However, Harsin commented that Zach Calzada has done a good job with what he’s been able to do so far in the spring, and come summer and fall he’ll have the same opportunity as the rest of the guys to compete for the starting job, per 247 Sports:

"“All those guys, including Zach — Zach didn’t get many reps. We didn’t get to see Zach today. We can’t put him out there. He’s had a shoulder injury. But every single rep has had an opportunity to take, I think he’s done a pretty good job. So, come fall, he’ll have the opportunities just like these guys.”"

TJ Finley’s experience and leadership is serving him well during the QB Battle, while Harsin noted that one of Ashford’s strengths is playing live football, which the quarterbacks won’t have the chance to do again until fall scrimmages.

Over the next two weeks, the quarterbacks will have evaluations with the coaching staff as a whole and evaluations with Coach Harsin himself before a short break that leads into the start of the summer program.

Until Zach Calzada re-enters the mix, the coaches will not truly be able to narrow down a starter for Auburn football in the 2022 season, but it’s clear that each of the QB1 contenders has shown promise during spring training.