Auburn quarterback rotation down to four

AUBURN, Ala. (TNS) — And we’re down to four.

Auburn’s quarterback depth chart is down to four scholarship players following Tuesday’s news of the transfer request of Tyler Queen and the position change of John Franklin III to wide receiver.

During the 15-minute open media viewing session of Tuesday’s practice, which was Auburn’s sixth of the spring season, offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey was seen working on run-pass option throws with Baylor transfer Jarrett Stidham, incumbent starter Sean White, early enrollee freshman Malik Willis and redshirt freshman Woody Barrett.

Malzahn said in late February at the start of spring practice that the six-man quarterback depth chart would need to be cut down by attrition simply to give adequate reps for the primary players and allow Lindsey to properly install his new tweaks to the offensive system.

“You’ve got to make decisions as you go,” Malzahn said Tuesday. “I know Chip has a good plan for rotating the guys as far as that goes. Obviously, it’s easier to evaluate the smaller the number.”

Franklin III was seen for the first time working with the wide receivers on March 7 along with being used as a gunner on special teams punt coverage with new coordinator Tim Horton.

Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn prepped the public for this move days earlier by saying Franklin III, a junior college transfer from East Mississippi Community College, was beginning to work with the wide receivers.

“He’s got a skill set, obviously everybody knows he’s a great athlete but it’s kind of really hard to tell,” Malzahn said Saturday. “He hasn’t got much but we’ll give him an opportunity and his attitude is great, he’s wanting to help the team any way he can. He’s wanting to compete for the starting quarterback job first.”

Auburn offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey said on March 7 that Franklin was “still in the mix” for quarterback but Malzahn essentially ended that discussion Tuesday by saying Franklin III “will work primarily at wide receiver the rest of the spring”.

Despite the fact that he’s on track to graduate this summer, Franklin confirmed following the 35-19 loss in the 2017 Sugar Bowl that his current plan was to return to Auburn for his fifth and final year of eligibility and compete for the starting quarterback job.

Franklin was injured in that Sugar Bowl game after just four possessions as he suffered an injury to his right arm. The East Mississippi Community College transfer received a hard hit on his forearm during his first drive of the game that led to the dual-threat quarterback being unable to grip the ball and loosen his fingers.

Franklin finished the 2016 season with 204 passing yards and 430 rushing yards with three total touchdowns (2 rushing, 1 passing) in a backup role after losing the starting battle to Sean White in preseason camp last August.