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Bryan Harsin on Auburn quarterback rotation: 'It's a feel'

ns_headshot_2024-clearby:Nick Schultz•09/16/22•

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Robby Ashford and T.J. Finley celebrate a touchdown against San Jose State on September 10, 2022. (Photo by Auburn Athletics)

One of the biggest decisions Bryan Harsin had to make at Auburn this year was the starting quarterback. He ended up deciding on TJ Finley, but Robby Ashford has appeared in both of the Tigers’ games this year as Harsin rotates them at the position.

Ahead of a key matchup against Penn State this week, he explained his decision-making process at quarterback.

Harsin appeared on The Paul Finebaum Show on Friday and talked about getting “a feel” for who’ll help the Tigers win games. Finley and Ashford offer different skill sets, but Harsin said he’ll roll with whoever gives Auburn the best chance to win. He’s told the team that, too.

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“It’s a feel,” Harsin said. “It depends on how a guy’s playing in a game. Now, from coaching quarterbacks, playing that position, as well, it’s also important that if you’ve got some guys that can help your team, you want you utilize them. You don’t want to just leave somebody on the bench that can come out there and make a difference for your team. And that might be a quarterback. So work that into your plan, but let everybody know it’s not a surprise to the team when Robby comes in. It’s not a surprise if we’re going with someone else in certain situations.

“To me, I think that’s part of the game anymore. Try to get your best players on the field. But in the game, if things are happening and you feel like you’ve got to make a change, you make a change. Hopefully, the other guy can come in there and make a difference and create a spark, and I think that’s what any coach would say. But that’s the reality of that position. If we’ve got two guys playing, hopefully that model continues to work. You’ll see one guy emerge throughout the game that will stay in there if he’s got more rhythm than the other, and that’s OK. The other guys know that when we get in those situations, if that’s the plan we need to win the game, then that becomes what we focus on.”

Through two games, Finley has completed 22 of 34 passes for 279 yards and a touchdown, while Ashford — a transfer from Oregon — has thrown 10 passes while rushing 13 times for 129 yards. They both could see time against Penn State on Saturday on The Plains.