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SPORTS

'Way, way too far out' to name starting QB for opener

James Crepea
Montgomery Advertiser

Auburn offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee will hold a press conference Sunday night.

AUBURN – Those hoping to see Jeremy Johnson start Auburn's season opener may be in for a stunning surprise.

In a move either unbelievably coy, or taking gamesmanship to a new level, Tigers offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee said it is "way, way too far out" to proclaim Johnson the starter for the season opener while Nick Marshall is sidelined, albeit indefinitely, as part of the punishment for his citation for possession of marijuana last month.

"I haven't even told (Johnson) that he's starting. I haven't said that," Lashlee said following Monday's practice, Auburn's fourth of preseason camp. "We've gone to practice and gone to work and I've coached him like I would if he was the starter or if he was the last-string guy just trying to make him better. We haven't gone there; it's just day four in fall camp. That's way, way too far out."

Asked if he was leaving open the possibility for Jonathan Wallace or true freshman Sean White to start the season opener, rather than Johnson, the former G.W. Carver star who has been splitting first-team reps with Marshall, and served as the backup last season, Lashlee did not close the possibility of Johnson not getting the nod.

"I'm just saying coach (Gus Malzahn) said Nick's not starting the first game," Lashlee said, "and that's where we're at and we're going to practice."

Jeremy Johnson is expected to start at quarterback when Auburn opens the season against Arkansas.

On Friday, Malzahn announced Marshall and starting field cornerback Jonathon Mincy, who was arrested for possession of marijuana in late June, were both not going to start against Arkansas, but did not say how long either would be held out or who would fill in for them. However, Malzahn, Lashlee and several players have spoken glowingly about Johnson and his ability to lead the team in Marshall's place.

The uncertainty has not affected how Arkansas has gone about preparing as of yet. Arkansas coach Bret Bielema said any schematic changes to their game plan will come closer to Aug. 30, but he's expecting Johnson to be the starter.

"I firmly believe … a lot of these things, as a head coach, we have these set in stone before they ever happen. Our kids know the rules before they ever become invoked," Bielema told reporters in his Monday news conference. "Obviously a very, very good football player, however long (Marshall) stays on the sideline is obviously in their coach's hands. I think when we're playing Auburn, if you're a true competitor you want to play against the best.

"I tell you what, their quarterback, the other guy's going to step in and he's a tremendous player."

Auburn has been in shells the past two days and will practice in full pads for the first time today. Lashlee said the reps at quarterback have been the same as they would have been if Marshall were the starter for the opener.

"With my guys, it's been business as usual," Lashlee said. "They've gone out and gotten the reps they'd have gotten no matter what."

Johnson, who has not been available for interviews, was 29-for-41 for 422 yards with six touchdowns and two interceptions last season.

Malzahn said he and Lashlee spoke of playing Johnson more than last year even before Marshall's run-in with the law occurred.

"That remains to be seen. The thing with Jeremy is that he played a lot last year," Lashlee said. "We feel like he's very talented. If Nick wasn't the starter, he would play and play well and probably could play at a lot of places. There's different thoughts, different ways we might implement that. That's still kind of a little bit out there."