One of the biggest questions surrounding Auburn football heading into the 2022 season, is who will take the opening snap of the season opener against Mercer on Sept. 3?
The opening day starter over the last three seasons, Bo Nix, elected to hit the transfer portal following the end of the 2021 season, where he ultimately landed at Oregon. Who will take his place? Auburn has three legitimate options.
The “comfortable pick” would be tj Finley. Finley took over the starting quarterback role after Nix injured his ankle during the Mississippi State game on Nov. 13. Auburn went 0-3 in games that Finley started, with one of those games being a four-overtime thriller at home to Alabama.
The other two options come from the transfer portal, Zach Calzada and Robby Ashford. Calzada started 10 games for Texas A&M last season, where he led the Aggies to an upset win at home over Alabama.
Ashford transfers to Auburn from Oregon, where he played both football and baseball. A native of Hoover, Ashford did not see any playing time in two seasons at Oregon and hopes to get a shot to lead the Tigers into the season opener.
While we wait for head coach Bryan Harsin to announce the opening day starter, here’s a look back at the last 25 opening day starting quarterbacks:
1997- Dameyune Craig
Auburn quarterback Dameyune Craig (16) looks to pitch-out during second quarter action Saturday, Sept. 14, 1996 as they play Mississippi in Oxford, Miss. Craig threw for 249 yards and three touchdowns as they defeated the Rebels 45-28. (AP Photo/Dan Loh)
Result- Auburn 28 Virginia 17
1998- Ben Leard
Auburn quarterback Ben Leard (14) runs through the grasp of Idaho’s Ryan Knowles (50) in the first half of their game at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala., Saturday, Sept. 11, 1999. Leard, a junior from Hartwell, Ga., stunned Georgia last week by completing 24 of 32 passes for a school-record 416 yards. He tied another…
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