White gets the nod
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AUBURN, Ala. | Three days after a 45-21 loss at LSU, Auburn demoted Jeremy Johnson and named Sean White its starting quarterback.
White, a redshirt freshman, will see his first college action against Mississippi State at Jordan-Hare Stadium Saturday.
"We're going to make a change at quarterback this week and Sean White is going to be our starter," Auburn coach Gus Malzahn said. "Sean is in a good spot. He's practiced well. We have a lot of confidence in him.
"Sean White is a guy that has got a lot of reps. He's responded very well in practice and very well in scrimmages. Just feel like he needs a shot right now."
Johnson struggled in his three games as Auburn's starter, completing 59.7 percent of his passes for 473 yards with five touchdowns and seven turnovers.
Johnson's 121.15 passer rating is 83rd in the country and his six interceptions are tied for worst.
"Anytime you change quarterbacks it's not an easy decision," Malzahn said. "From a coaching standpoint, you have to do each week what you feel like is best for your team and for your offense."
White signed with Auburn out of University School in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., in the 2014 class after throwing for 2,239 yards and 29 touchdowns as a senior. He was the Elite 11 MVP and Under Armour All-American game MVP.
"I'm looking forward to seeing Sean. He's a guy that can flat-out throw it and he can run it to. He's got that little air of confidence that quarterbacks have," Malzahn said.
The Auburn-Mississippi State game will kickoff at 6:30 p.m. CT on ESPN2.
"We're thinking about nothing but Mississippi State," Malzahn said. "We're putting the first three games in the rear view mirror and it's over. All we're thinking about is Mississippi State and that's the way we're going to operate."
