SPORTS

Jeremy Johnson OK being The Future while Nick Marshall the present

James Crepea
Montgomery Advertiser

AUBURN – The Future was once again the present as Jeremy Johnson had a near-perfect outing in the biggest game of his life on Saturday, but the former G.W. Carver star's tenure as Auburn's starting quarterback will be short-lived, as expected, and he's just fine with that.

There has never been any confusion around the program that Nick Marshall, who ended up sitting out the first half of Saturday's game while Johnson lit up Arkansas for 243 yards and two touchdowns, will return to being the starter after serving the punishment for his July 11 marijuana citation.

"Nick is still the quarterback but Jeremy will have a role," Auburn coach Gus Malzahn reiterated following Auburn's 45-21 romp of Arkansas on Saturday. "We talked in the offseason about giving him more of different situations and packages."

So anyone thinking the Tigers have a Wally Pipp scenario brewing needs to better appreciate what Auburn has in Marshall, the returning Heisman Trophy contender, and Johnson in a complementary capacity, this season.

"Nick is our starting quarterback and that's it," Johnson said. "It ain't no other if, and or buts about it. He's the starter and he's going to start the rest of this season and whenever I'm called upon to come in, to do what I have to do, I'm going to make it happen."

Marshall, who was not available for interviews, was 4-for-6 for 50 yards and added 19 rushing yards and a touchdown, helped open the running game after Johnson operated exclusively in the air during the first half.

The presence of the dual-threat Marshall forced Arkansas' defense to account for both him and Auburn's running backs and the Tigers capitalized to the tune of 234 of their 302 rushing yards after halftime.

"Nick definitely adds a dimension," said Cameron Artis-Payne, who ran for a career-high 177 yards and a touchdown, with 122 yards after halftime. "When you got a dynamic runner at quarterback the defense has to play the quarterback and the running back and that just opens things up for the both of us."

The zone read, which Marshall and Tre Mason ran to such perfection last season, was back at full bore on Saturday. Johnson, the more prototypical pocket passer, did not attempt a run during his time.

"Jeremy can run as well, but not like Nick," Malzahn said. "They are different type of players. It is good to have two guys who can run you offense effectively."

Malzahn and offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee have stated Johnson will play a bigger part in the game plans than a year ago, when aside from his start against lowly Western Carolina and playing three quarters against Florida Atlantic he had just four pass attempts in three games.

"That was the plan all from the beginning, to expand my role more and get more experience on the field," Johnson said. "It just depends on what team we play and what package he has in for me but whenever I'm called upon, I'm still going to be ready."