Stidham, two freshmen join practice

AUBURN | Jarrett Stidham officially suited up and practiced at Auburn for the first time Tuesday.

The junior college signee and former Baylor quarterback was one of three newcomers to join the team for the final three bowl practices before Christmas break.

“Jarrett, it was good to get him out there,” Auburn coach Gus Malzahn said. “He threw some individual. He made the comment that it's good to be back on the practice field. Been out for a long time. He's got real good zip on the ball.”

Also practicing for the first time were linebacker K.J. Britt and defensive back Malcolm Askew, both early high school graduates.

“K.J. Britt is a player we think has a chance to be an outstanding linebacker,” Malzahn said. “Got a great family, great person. Malcolm Askew has a chance to be a very good defensive back. Same thing — great person, great family. Really fits in with us.”

The early enrollees weren’t able to do much more than individual drills as No. 14 Auburn is preparing to play No. 7 Oklahoma in the Sugar Bowl, but it gives them a head start on what to expect during spring drills.

“I think more than anything it gives them an idea of what a practice routine looks like,” Malzahn said. “Get around the drills, what drills you'll be doing. Get around your teammates. There's nothing like getting out there with your teammates in a practice-like situation. Give them more of a foundation.

“Once spring gets here it won't just be a shock to their system the way practice is set up, the tempo, the drills coaches expect and all that.”

Stidham, Britt and Askew will practice in Auburn on Wednesday and Thursday but won’t be eligible to travel with the team to the Sugar Bowl.

“We'll have two more practices and then we'll send our guys off for Christmas break and then we'll meet back at the bowl site on the 27th,” Malzahn said. “Overall, I feel real good where we're at with our preparation. Our players are extremely focused so that's a good thing.”