Many Auburn Tiger fans may feel dejected after USF Bulls transfer Byrum Brown struggled during the A-Day spring football intrasquad scrimmage from Jordan-Hare Stadium on Saturday. Completing 50% of his passes and throwing two interceptions, Brown showed more red flags than spectacular tendencies.
And yet, as AL.com's Jerry Humphrey III notes, Cam Newton similarly struggled during his one and only A-Day spring game in 2010. Humphrey didn't ignore Oregon State Beavers transfer Tristan Ti'a having a breakout afternoon, however.
Per Humphrey, "Seeing how Newton’s career panned out, Brown’s spring game struggles do not define his career or necessarily preview how Auburn’s offense will look this fall. However, after backup quarterback Tristan Ti’a completed all but five of his passes for 179 yards and two touchdowns, Brown will have to come out firing in fall camp to put the spring game behind him."
Like Newton, Brown comes from a Sunshine State school, though Cam came from the SEC rival Florida Gators. Brown also arrives with one year of eligibility remaining. Perhaps it's another good omen that the two share the bond of underwhelming in their first time in front of a crowd at JHS, but with the results not counting.
Let's just hope Ti'a is a more obvious successor than what Newton had behind him in the QB room after he left in 2011.
Byrum Brown holds Auburn football's hopes in 2026
No rational Tiger fans is coming away from Saturday thinking there's anything close to a QB competition in East Central Alabama. Alex Golesh and Joel Gordon have known their starting QB since the moment they were hired. It was always going to be, and will indefinitely be, Brown.
Once Brown is comfortable, assuming he accomplishes that in short order before September, he holds the key to Auburn becoming a contender or continuing to fade from national relevance this fall. Perhaps there's more urgency to get it together now after somewhat of a public letdown for the Tigers' great hope under center.
We'll see how it unfolds over the next few months. That Cam reminder is important to remember for Brown, who still has a golden opportunity to be Auburn's answer at QB.
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