Bryan Harsin confident in Bo Nix, not ruling out TJ Finley at quarterback

If the season began today, Bo Nix would start at quarterback for Auburn football, according to head coach Bryan Harsin. The first-year Tigers headman said Wednesday the junior is taking his reps with the first team.

Nix has been in a quarterback battle with TJ Finley this offseason. Although the former is the starter right now, Harsin still had a lot of good things to say about Finley.

“Going back to that second scrimmage, I thought Bo did a great job with third downs and decision making,” the coach said. “TJ has really come on. He’s played but he hadn’t been in this system through the spring. Through the practices that we’ve had, things are starting to click with TJ. I like where he’s at and his mentality. I think TJ has a really good command of the huddle and Bo’s done a great job of that as well. Both those guys have been pushing each other, but if we played a game right now Bo would be starting.”

Nix has started the past two seasons for Auburn. Last year he finished with 2,415 yards, 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Finley started five games for LSU this past season, finishing with 941 yards, five touchdowns and five interceptions.

Harsin earlier this year alluded to the fact that the Tigers might play two quarterbacks. The coach was asked again Wednesday and still didn’t rule out the possibility.

“That remains to be seen,” Harsin said. “It’s always one guy until it’s not. If you deserve to play, we’ll find a role. The quarterback position is hard to split a bunch of time. But there may be opportunities for guys to get in there and have a role. It would clearly be to better our offense and help us win. That’s simply why we would do it.”

Harsin takes over Auburn after seven years as the coach at Boise State. He amassed an 88-69 record with the Broncos, including a Fiesta Bowl victory during his first season in 2014. He takes over an Auburn program that has been stuck in mediocrity after making the last ever BCS Championship Game in 2013.

The Tigers finished 9-4 in Nix’s freshman season but only 6-5 last year. They open the season against Akron at 7 p.m. EST on Sept. 4.

Although Nix will start the game at quarterback for Auburn if you believe Bryan Harsin it won’t exactly be a surprise to see Finley as well.