2 Gus Malzahn-recruited ex-Auburn football QBs can be battling for NFL QB1 role in 2024

Gus Malzahn may see the last two starters he had under center for Auburn football, Bo Nix and Jarrett Stidham, battle it out for the Denver Broncos' QB1 role during the 2024 season.

Per DraftKings Sportsbook (h/t Mile High Report), Denver has the highest odds and the only minus odds (-150) to land Nix; with the next highest odds belonging to the Minnesota Vikings at +400. Of course, Stidham is the Broncos' incumbent starter after the team cut Russell Wilson and his massive contract in the offseason.

A battle of two former Tigers transfers -- Stidham inbound from Baylor and Nix outbound to Oregon -- could headline Denver's training camp, though neither Nix nor Stidham figure to be viewed as Sean Payton's long-term option under center.

Not that what analysts think matters. JaMarcus Russell and Sam Bradford would be first-ballot Hall-of-Famers right now and Tom Brady wouldn't be seen as the sport's undisputed G.O.A.T. if the on-field results were secondary to "expert" opinions.

Bo Nix defended his Auburn football career before start of NFL career

Before reaching the NFL, Bo wanted to debunk a prominent narrative about his career on the Plains -- that he didn't see any success at Auburn and only took off once he got to Dan Lanning's Oregon Ducks.

“I think sometimes it’s forgotten that at Auburn we had some really good seasons, but I think overall that that is just something that is in the back of people’s minds,” Nix said during a discussion with Ryen Russillo. “But fortunately, there’s always something next and something else to go out there and do, and thank goodness that however people think, whatever opinions they have of Auburn, it doesn’t define who I am."

Nix preferred his time with Malzahn over his successor -- we'll withhold the name for anyone who's having a bad day and doesn't need it to get worse -- but he isn't ashamed of having ever been an Auburn Tiger.

Quite the opposite actually.