Amid the hoopla surrounding Alex Golesh's importing much of the USF Bulls' foundation from a year ago into the Auburn Tigers football program in his first year, a troubling trend surrounding star quarterback transfer portal addition Byrum Brown has emerged.
Many think Brown's unorthodox throwing mechanics will hold him back in his jump from the American to the SEC this fall, while damning footage has emerged of several poor throws at an Elite 11 event. The footage alone wouldn't be so worrisome if it didn't follow a rough A-Day performance where he was thoroughly outplayed by Oregon State Beavers transfer Tristan Ti'a.
Golesh didn't mince words on Brown's performance on April 18 at Jordan-Hare Stadium after witnessing Brown struggle in an offense he played in for three years in Tampa with upgraded personnel around him.
"To be honest with you, I didn't think Byrum saw it great today," Golesh told reporters after the intrasquad scrimmage. "I thought he was efficient in what he needed to do, but I don't think he saw it great in the middle of the field."
Doubt has fully crept in. Playing at a position that is defined by mental fortitude, Brown is being offered his first major test in the spotlight that playing at Auburn University attracts. What comes next? Should the Tigers be worried about Brown?
Byrum Brown's struggles could one day be forgotten, just like Cam Newton's once upon a time
Brown never struggled during practices at USF, but practicing on the Plains is a bit different. There are always swaths of media heads around at the Woltosz Football Performance Center, and in this particular moment in time, there's heightened anxiety about a program that's largely irrelevant on the national stage.
There's pressure mounting on Brown, and he could undoubtedly feel it. Imagine meeting Cam Newton on the field where he once led an undefeated national champion Auburn team and knowing you are expected to live up to that in some way, shape, or form?
There are yips now, but Newton had his own yips in 2010. During his A-Day debut, Newton was 3/8 for 63 yards. His throws weren't connecting, and there were questions about whether Gus Malzahn went through the effort of outdueling the Mississippi State Bulldogs on the recruiting trail for the Florida Gators transfer for naught.
And then Newton ran over everyone during the 2010 season and was the perfect leader when things got tough. Brown doesn't need to prove anything right now, even if it is unnerving to see another transfer look worse when arriving in East Central Alabama. Payton Thorne was a star with the Michigan State Spartans before never finding his groove in orange and blue, after all. Then again, that may have been a Hugh Freeze problem.
What Brown needs to focus on is blocking out the noise and being the guy he's been for the Bulls. Brown knows everyone is doubting him and his fellow USF teammates, so it's go-time to show those detractors that they're overreacting to offseason reps that don't matter in the grand scheme.
Just like they did 16 years ago with another physical specimen at the QB position coming from a Sunshine State school.
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