Bryan Harsin updates the status of each quarterback in position battle

Auburn head coach Bryan Harsin has a tough decision to make over the offseason regarding who will take the majority of snaps under center come September as the Tigers look to move on from the Bo Nix era and the drama that has plagued the Tigers football program since last season ended regarding their coaching staff.

“At some point after that first scrimmage in fall, we got to hone it down to ‘right, here’s our top guys,’ get them more reps and then make a decision,” Harsin said. “And when we do, we’ll name a starter and then that doesn’t mean that other guys will have a role somewhere on this team.”

One person Harsin pointed toward specifically is junior quarterback TJ Finley, noting his leadership qualities, command of the offense and how he’s helped guide the younger quarterbacks in the room early and often this spring. Last season, Finley appeared in nine of Auburn’s games last season and put up 827 passing yards and six touchdowns as Nix’s backup.

Experience doesn’t mean Finley is guaranteed the starting job. Other quarterbacks on the roster such as incoming freshman Holden Geriner, who Finley said he knew was special from the moment he stepped in the doors at Auburn.

“Every quarterback on the team wants to take over the team,” said Finley, who was 5 of 7 for 60 yards on the Tigers’ opening drive and finished 11-for-19 for 137 yards and a touchdown during Auburn’s spring game on Saturday. “I’m just doing my job and doing everything I can putting myself in a position to win the job.”

Another popular man for the starting job is Robby Ashford, an incoming transfer from Oregon that won Auburn’s spring game offensive MVP honor on Saturday, throwing 12-16 for 132 yards while running with the second team. Ashford’s natural athleticism and versatility kept the Tiger’s defense on their toes all game long.

“It was good to see Robby go out there and play, Robby is learning a whole new system,” Harsin said.

Whether it’s Finley, Geriner, Ashford or a surprise party under center for Harsin’s Tigers this fall, the starter will be backed by the entire quarterback room that seems to want nothing by the best for each other and for their team as Auburn looks to get back to becoming a SEC football powerhouse once again in Harsin’s second season as head coach.

“They’re all helping each other out,” Harsin said. “And I think that’s one thing that creates competition, it is going to bring out the best in those guys. And then the next step is going to be once that scrimmage happens in fall camp. We’re going to have to start making a decision, there’s our top two guys here, the guys we’re going to work with the [starting] offense more and then make a final decision before we play a few weeks out or whatever before we go out there and play the first game.”