SPORTS

Nick Marshall's misstep opens door for Jeremy Johnson to start in season opener

James Crepea
Montgomery Advertiser
If Nick Marshall loses playing time, Jeremy Johnson could be Auburn's starter for the season opener.

HOOVER – Nick Marshall's misstep may open the door for Jeremy Johnson to be Auburn's starting quarterback for the season opener against Arkansas.

Auburn coach Gus Malzahn would not specify the punishment for Marshall, who was cited for possession of marijuana last week, but said the Tigers' returning starter would "suffer the consequences" for the incident.

"I'm not ready to go there yet," Malzahn said about whether Marshall could be held out of the season opener on Aug. 30. "I'll deal with it at the right time. The good thing is we've got Jeremy Johnson, who could start for the majority of the teams in college football. We'll see what happens."

Johnson started just one game, against lowly Western Carolina, last season, but appeared in six games. The Montgomery native went 29-for-41 for 422 yards with six touchdowns and two interceptions as a true freshman last season.

If the former Carver star gets the nod, his teammates are confident in his ability to run the offense in what would be the biggest game of his short college career.

"Jeremy could start - no disrespect for any other quarterbacks in this league - but he start probably anywhere else in the SEC," tight end C.J. Uzomah said. "We have all the confidence in the world in him. This offseason we've been throwing with Nick and Jeremy. We feel comfortable and confident in everything he's been doing.

"He's one of the leaders. He's not a senior, he's not a starting guy, but he's definitely one of the leaders on the field and we trust him with every aspect of playing football."

Johnson's most high-profile game experience came when he replaced an injured Marshall during the second quarter against Florida Atlantic last season. He threw a touchdown pass on his first play and finished 10-for-16 for 192 yards with two TDs and an interception.

Malzahn said he's comfortable with Johnson's ability because of what he showed in that contest.

"You look at what he did as a true freshman, the two games that he played primarily, the talent wise," Malzahn said. "He understands the offense better now. He's a year older and so that's very important."

In his limited time last season, Johnson ran just seven time for 47 yards. The 6-foot-5 Johnson is not as dynamic on the ground as Marshall, who ran for 1,068 yards and 12 touchdowns last season, and if he were to start it could alter the gameplan to be less reliant on the zone read.

Uzomah doesn't believe such a personnel move would cause a dramatic shift in the play calling.

Him and Nick are both very good runners," Uzomah said. "They have a little bit of a different style of running; Nick is a little more shifty and Jeremy has a long stride that you can't really account for until he's running by you. I think the playbook is still as wide open as its been."

Relying on a sophomore making his first SEC start as opposed to a senior widely considered to be a Heisman Trophy candidate may not be the preference of fans, or the coaching staff, but the repercussions for Marshall's run-in with the law could dictate such a move.

The possibility of playing Arkansas without Marshall and cornerback Jonathon Mincy, who was arrested for possession of marijuana last month, was hard for defensive tackle Gabe Wright to envision, but he'll be ready should it come to fruition.

"If that's the consequence that's handed down,will I still play? Yes. Will I still handle the game in my superstitions or how I handle my (game routine), I'll still handle it how I have been," Wright said. "It would change things strategically. I would hope they'll still be able to come around and engage and talk, but I don't know."