Auburn Football: Bo Nix makes first comments since being benched

Bo Nix has spoken for the first time since his benching this past weekend. The Auburn quarterback was pulled against Georgia State in the second half.

With a new head coach in Bryan Harsin, Nix seemed primed for a breakout year. But the Tigers fell at Penn State and before being pulled against the Panthers, he was 13 of 27 passing attempts for 156 yards.

Speaking to The Next Round podcast for the first time since his benching, Nix talked openly about his frustration.

“I was extremely frustrated when they took me out of the game,” Nix said to The Next Round podcast. “I thought I was healthy enough to play. I felt like I did the best I could and unfortunately it wasn’t my decision. I’m a competitive guy and no matter what, I want to be in the game. That’s me.

“I was shocked. I knew that the camera finds you, so I didn’t want to draw attention away from our team. I wasn’t trying to insert myself and have the attention on me. T.J. did a good job when he went in. He made plays to win the game. I’m happy for him. T.J. and I are getting closer the more we’re around each other.”

So far this season, Nix is 63 of 103 for 724 yards and five touchdowns. And while he has not thrown an interception yet this season, he was not moving the ball the way Harsin wanted against Georgia State. Behind Finley, Auburn engineered a 34-24 comeback and is 3-1 on the season, ranked No. 22 in the latest AP top-25 poll.

Bo Nix’s Auburn career

Nix, the 2019 SEC Freshman of the Year, came into Auburn from Pinson Valley High School (Alabama) as a five-star quarterback, one of the top-ranked signal callers in the nation. He had an immediate impact his freshman year, as he became the first true freshman quarterback to start a season opener for Auburn since 1946, and threw for 2,542 yards and 16 touchdowns, with just six interceptions.

Additionally, Nix tacked on another 313 yards on the ground, rushing for seven touchdowns. Though Auburn went just 6-5 last season, Nix put up comparable stats. He threw for 2,415 yards in two fewer games due to the abbreviated season, and he threw for 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions.