Auburn football offensive coordinator Eric Kiesau provided a fall camp update on all three quarterbacks in the mix for the starting job, and there is quite a variance on what the first-year Tigers OC said about each of them.
First, we have our starter T.J. Finley. The second-year LSU transfer Finley stepped in late last season to replace an injured Bo Nix but went 0-3. Looking deeper into the South Carolina, Alabama, and Houston games, Finley had every game within reach but couldn’t seal the deal in the closing moments of each. Now, he profiles as the top contender for the QB1 role after a big August propelled him back into the starting role. Kiesau said Finley ‘had really good command, really good precision.’
Next, there’s Oregon transfer Robby Ashford, who starred at Hoover High School, one of Alabama’s premiere high school programs. He has yet to start a snap in his collegiate career, but Ashford wowed at A-Day, bringing home offensive MVP honors in the process. Kiesau said Ashford was ‘flashy’ and ‘really starting to play the QB position.’
Now for Zach Calzada. Unlike the other two options under center, Kiesau was not complimentary. At all. Instead of commenting on a particular attribute from the Texas A&M transfer, Kiesau simply said ‘we’ve got to keep bringing him along.’
Auburn OC Eric Kiesau said all three quarterbacks evenly took reps in today's scrimmage
— Justin Ferguson (@JFergusonAU) August 19, 2022
Finley: "T.J. had really good command, really good precision."
Ashford: "He's flashy... but he's really starting to play the QB position."
Calzada: "We've got to keep bringing him along."
Auburn football could settle on multiple options at quarterback
Clearly, Zach Calzada is behind in the Auburn football QB battle. Alarmingly behind, even, considering he was the ‘heavy favorite‘, according to On3’s Justin Hokanson, to win the QB1 job not a few weeks ago.
The other two options, who are clearly impressing Bryan Harsin’s coaching staff in fall camp, could both find the field in 2022. Harsin is potentially planning to deploy multiple signal-callers during the fall.