Bryan Harsin weighs in on the Auburn quarterback situation

Auburn coach Bryan Harsin has plenty of candidates to choose from to be his starting quarterback in 2022. With a little more than three weeks until the Tigers kick off their season against Mercer on Sept. 3, the race is still neck-and-neck.

Harsin appeared in front of media Tuesday after a practice session, where he discussed the ongoing quarterback battle among other topics. The Tigers coach started off by complimenting Texas A&M transfer Zach Calzada for his performance in fall camp.

“I think he’s done well. Today was a good day for him,” Harsin said of Calzada. “I thought his footwork was good and he threw the ball well. Like everybody else, he had a sense of urgency on the field. That’s where our quarterbacks each and every day, they’ve gotta show up and have great days because if they don’t the rest of us really feel that. So there’s really no days off for our quarterbacks. Today was one of our more consistent days from the QBs. Still not what it needs to be, but it was more consistent than what it’s been from all those guys.”

Calzada took over as the starter for A&M last season after Haynes King suffered a season-ending injury in Week 2. He went on to 2,189 yards, 17 touchdowns and nine interceptions while also leading the Aggies to an upset of then-No. 1 Alabama. But while he brings the most starting experience, he also faces fierce competition in the form of returning junior TJ Finley and Oregon transfer Robby Ashford.

Harsin also had good things to say about Ashford, noting his ability to make plays on the ground as well as through the air. A four-star recruit in the 2020 class, Ashford ranked as the No. 23 quarterback according to On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average.

“For Robby, he’s a weapon too when he takes off and runs,” Harsin said. “He’s got that ability and he’s a force when he does it. So just decision-making. If everybody’s covered, he’s gonna have a chance to go out there and make a play with his feet. I also think he’s throwing the ball better. His decision-making in the pass game, I thought he had a couple throws the other day that were really special that he put into some windows. Then just his command of the offense, too. Calling plays, making checks, audibles, all those things, He’s got a better feel for those things right now.

“Today was pretty good. I thought TJ had a good day today. Zach stepped up in some areas. All those did some good things and I think every one of those quarterbacks have been player of the day at some point. Those guys are all still competing. They’re getting somewhat equal reps, and I like where Robby’s progressing right now.”

Bryan Harsin went on to say there is still plenty of time left to name Auburn’s starting quarterback, and the remainder of camp will be pivotal. But with the group of guys he has right now, he feels confident whoever it ends up being will perform just fine.

“All of those guys have done a good job of applying what coach (Eric) Kiesau is asking them to do,” he said. “We’ve got more time. It’s not a finished product right now. For everybody, we all want to know, but coaching that position and doing this for a few years now, you know we have time to keep building through some things and you’ve just gotta stick with one thing for a while until they get it and then move on to the next.”