Bryan Harsin makes first comments on Bo Nix decision to enter portal

Bo Nix’s decision to enter the transfer portal created a hole in Auburn’s quarterback room. Bryan Harsin hadn’t said much on the move — until Thursday.

Harsin spoke to reporters and was asked about Nix’s departure and how he’d go about finding Auburn’s next quarterback. He gave the now-former Tigers quarterback credit for doing one thing in particular: graduating with a degree from Auburn.

“The challenge is always finding who’s next,” Harsin said, via AL.com’s Tom Green. “Bo, the one thing I don’t want to get lost in this whole thing with Bo is that he graduated from Auburn. There’s something to be said for that.”

Harsin was asked again about Nix’s decision, and he pivoted focus back to the current players.

“[To] be honest with you, I’m gonna focus more on the guys we have,” Harsin said, via the Montgomery Advertiser’s Bennett Durando.

In 10 games this year, Nix threw for 2,294 yards and 11 touchdowns for Auburn. He missed the last two games after breaking his ankle, opening the door for Finley to start some games. Finley went completed 34 of 58 passes for 325 yards and three touchdowns against South Carolina and Alabama to close out the season.

Bryan Harsin discusses Auburn quarterback situation moving forward

Auburn’s quarterback room is going to look different next year after Bo Nix announced he was entering the transfer portal. But the Tigers landed a talented quarterback recruit on National Signing Day, making Bryan Harsin’s job more interesting.

Holden Geriner is a four-star prospect out of Savannah, Georgia. He won a state title this year for Benedictine Military School, and checks in as the No. 18 quarterback in the Class of 2022 according to the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

Harsin was asked about landing Geriner and the importance of getting a quarterback in this class. He also addressed whether he’d be the only quarterback from the Class of 2022.

“Well, that remains to be seen and obviously things have changed in that room,” Harsin said on National Signing Day. “But … here’s what I’ve seen from Holden this entire year. First of all, he played his best game in the state championship and won it. But go all the way back to when he committed to us and chose Auburn as a school of choice. All he’s done from that point on is gotten better. Every single game, every time I’ve seen him, he’s just on this steady climb of just improving, getting better and you can see it.

“Not just physically … his understanding of the game is improved, his leadership has gotten better, he’s had a chance to come to multiple games and be in this environment and watch our team play. I think he’s got a presence about him. He’s got a wonderful family, and I think there’s a strong relationship there and a lot of trust.”