Auburn not so fast in declaring Jeremy Johnson starter vs Arkansas

AUBURN -- It might be the worst-kept secret in all of college football this preseason.

The Auburn coaching staff won't publicly acknowledge what even the most casual observer can draw as a definitive conclusion: Jeremy Johnson will start for the Tigers when they host Arkansas on Aug. 30.

Auburn coach Gus Malzahn has decided returning starter and Heisman Trophy candidate Nick Marshall won't start as a result of his citation for possession of marijuana last month. Yet for some reason, Malzahn and his staff have yet to declare that Johnson, with his "NFL arm" and who Malzahn said could start for "the majority of the teams in college football," will be behind the center when Auburn kicks off the 2014 season.

"We're not even going to go there yet," Malzahn said following Wednesday's scrimmage at Jordan-Hare Stadium. "We'll wait and in time we'll make sure and tell everybody how we're going to go about it. Obviously we have a lot of confidence in him, and like I've said before, in his skills and what he can do. Then the fact that he played last year and played pretty effectively."

Johnson, who was 29-for-41 for 422 yards with six touchdowns and two interceptions last season, was the only Auburn quarterback other than Marshall to start a game in 2013.

"I think everybody knows he's a great passer," wide receiver Marcus Davis said of Johnson. "I feel like he's coming along really good."

COLUMN: Duane Rankin: Gus, just give Johnson the ball

But offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee said it is still "way, way too far out" to name the former G.W. Carver star the starter.

Malzahn and Lashlee even agreed Johnson, who has not been available for interviews, would take "a bigger role regardless" this season.

Auburn's other options don't appear to be even remotely plausible.

Jonathan Wallace, who threw four passes, not including a two-point conversion attempt, all of last season, has not started since the 2012 Iron Bowl and might lose his job as the holder.

Sean White is a heralded signee out of Boca Raton, Florida, but coaches have acknowledged he's all but guaranteed to redshirt this fall.

Players have been forced to play along with the charade.

"It's whoever steps up," cornerback Jonathan Jones said. "We've got (Johnson), the other guy who just came in, Wallace. All of them have been getting reps. You can say it's a 'no-brainer,' but Malzahn is all about putting the best people out there. They have to compete just like everybody else at every position."

Even if the coaches haven't thrown their support behind Johnson publicly, his teammates on the offensive side of the ball have.

"Jeremy Johnson has come a long way from his freshman year," H-back Brandon Fulse said. "Most freshmen are immature, just kind of lolly-gagging, but now he's stepped up. He's a leader. He's taking the game more serious now and I see that. Jeremy Johnson will be a leader now, and when Nick leaves and he carries this team.

"First game, anytime you put him in, we have 100 percent (confidence) that Jeremy Johnson will get the job done."