SPORTS

Jeremy Johnson ready to be Auburn's starting QB

James Crepea
Montgomery Advertiser
Auburn quarterback Jeremy Johnson celebrates with Auburn wide receiver D'haquille Williams after he received a touchdown reception during the Auburn A-Day spring game on Saturday, April 18, 2015, at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala.

AUBURN – The magnitude of the moment did not escape Jeremy Johnson.

After being called in to Gus Malzahn's office along with Sean White on Monday afternoon to learn he was named Auburn's starting quarterback heading into next season, Johnson recognized how many people would take pride in him being the face of the team for the remainder of his college career.

"It's a blessing to be the starting quarterback, not only for me but for my whole entire city back home," the Montgomery native said. "Like coach Malzahn said, a lot of people around this program got a lot of confidence in me, and so do my teammates."

Malzahn's decision to name Johnson the starter at the end of spring practice was seen largely as a formality, but the coaching staff wanted to see how Johnson would carry himself mostly from a mental standpoint over the last six weeks.

Johnson's experience of serving as Nick Marshall's backup the last two seasons, making two starts and appearing in a handful of other situations, and his continued development during spring made him the obvious choice from a performance standpoint.

"I think he earned it first and foremost," offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee said. "He's played in some meaningful games, some meaningful moments, and have done quite well in those situations. …

"Probably somewhere around the second main scrimmage, it wasn't as much of what Sean didn't do, it was just more, Jeremy's got all that experience and he's been there, he's done that and you could just tell he's ready."

Labeled as The Future of Auburn football back to his days at G.W. Carver, Johnson waited patiently while Marshall led the Tigers for two years, which he called "the most humbling experience" compared to his high school career.

"It was a humbling experience and it made me better as a person," Johnson said. "It made me become a team player and a role player that I never had the chance or opportunity to be from being a starter. … I see how other guys feel when it has to be that way."

Johnson said he was motivated by a conversation he had with former Auburn star and Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton, who attended a practice earlier in the spring.

Newton asked Johnson, "What's your why? Why do you get up every day?" to which the Carolina Panthers QB said his is to be the best player to ever play football.

"After he told me that, I didn't want to hear nothing else because that was the most encouraging thing and motivation I heard in my life," Johnson said. "I just use that same influence and that same mentality every day. I get up and just try to be the best player I can for this team and just for this whole entire program."

Johnson will spend the rest of his career in the limelight, which he says he's ready for and happy to deal with.

"It's been like that even when I wasn't the starting quarterback," he said. "You got to handle yourself in a different fashion than everyone else and people on the street. I carry myself very well, I feel like. …

"There are so many people in the world that wish they had the opportunity that I have, and I cherish every moment I get. I'm looking forward to this season."

Johnson enters the offseason coming off an A-Day performance in which he went 14 for 22 for 252 yards and two touchdowns, while leading the first-team offense on two other scoring drives, though he did not feel as though he played his best.

Lashlee has a high standard for his first long-term pupil as well.

"I thought he performed very well but he wasn't exceptional," Lashlee said. "By exceptional, he hasn't quite gotten to where he's at his best and that's where his goal is and where he wants to be. There's still more in it for him and that's what we're going to keep working for. … I think he's prepared for this moment. It's like I told him (Monday), it's just starting now.

"Now, the real work starts."