Jeremy Johnson opens spring atop the depth chart at QB
AUBURN – The Future is now.
After sitting patiently for two years as Nick Marshall helped turnaround the Auburn program as one of the more dynamic dual threat quarterbacks in college football, Jeremy Johnson's time has finally arrived.
Johnson, referred to as The Future by the coaching staff dating back to his years at G.W. Carver High School, is ready to take over the reins.
"It was tough (to sit and wait) but I look at it as a humbling experience and it made me grow and mature over the past two years," Johnson said. "I supported Nick and I enjoyed watching him play every snap here. God got a plan for everybody and that was his plan, for me to sit out. Now that my time is here I'm looking to win the starting job and be the man."
The Montgomery native opens spring practice at the top of the depth chart in a position "competition" that has no other serious contender.
"We have a lot of confidence in Jeremy," Malzahn said. "He's going to have to go out there and win the starting job, but he's in a very good spot and we have a lot of confidence in him."
Junior college transfer Jason Smith, who worked at fielding punts in his orange quarterback jersey during Tuesday's opening spring practice, redshirt freshman Sean White and true freshman Tyler Queen will all supposedly have an opportunity to win the job, but that's more coach speak than reality.
Malzahn said all four will get snaps and "it could be fairly equal, at least the first few days when we're installing our base offense." But it's clearly Johnson's job until someone proves otherwise.
"It felt good knowing that I was going to the first person getting the first snap of the day," Johnson said. "I brought a lot of energy today so my teammates an follow me and it felt real good."
To the naked eye the 6-foot-5 240 pound Johnson – he says, believably, that he's gained 10 pounds in the offseason – is physically a cut above his counterparts on the practice field, towering over the other three quarterbacks with the 6-foot-2 230 pound Queen the next closest in stature.
Smith played quarterback while at McGill-Toolen High and Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College last season but worked at wide receiver in the 2012 Alabama-Mississippi All-Star game, with Johnson at quarterback, and was among a group of players Johnson threw to in the offseason.
Still, Johnson maintains that "it's a competition" until Malzahn says otherwise.
Johnson's two years in Malzahn's Hurry-Up, No-Huddle system and playing experience, though limited, also give him a leg up on the field.
"I think he has a very good understanding," Malzahn said. "I would say he's thinking like coaches. It's got to help, no doubt."
As a true freshman in 2013, Johnson threw for 422 yards with six touchdowns and two interceptions, making his first career start against FCS Western Carolina and playing the final three quarters against Florida Atlantic.
He threw for 436 yards with three touchdowns last season, though his 243 yards and two scores in the first half of the season opener against Arkansas, in which he made the start for the suspended Marshall, accounted for the majority of his production.
"It gave me a lot of confidence, mainly in that first game last season knowing I could go out and be able to play against an SEC team and play the way I did because people say I ain't play nobody when I was a freshman," Johnson said. "But as you can see the first game went well and that just gave me more confidence. I believe that I can play against anybody."
Johnson has the respect of his teammates, particularly on offense, after waiting his turn.
"I see a lot of potential in him," right tackle Avery Young said. "I feel that he can be a big help to the team."
With another 14 practices over six weeks to develop chemistry with his receiving corps, two new starters on the offensive line, newcomers at tight end, H-back and running back, there will be a lot of work ahead for Johnson.
"This is a new team, new players, new (defensive) coaching staff," Johnson said. "I'm looking forward to bringing everybody in to where if I say we're going to move right, the whole team moves right.
"That's the type of leader I'm trying to become for this team."