Auburn starting quarterback job remains open heading to fall practice

By Collin Mickle

Published: July 25, 2008

HOOVER — Tommy Tuberville made it official Friday morning at Southeastern Conference Media Days: Kodi Burns is Auburn’s quarterback. And so is Chris Todd.

And yet, there can only be one.

The Burns-Todd — or is that Todd-Burns? — race for Auburn’s No. 1 quarterback job will continue into preseason practice, which begins next Friday.

As of Friday morning, Burns has a slight edge, at least according to Tuberville. But that could easily change once practices start.

“I don’t know who’s going to be the quarterback,” Tuberville said. “I wouldn’t be surprised at all if Chris Todd was our starting quarterback.”

No matter who wins the starting job, both quarterbacks will play this season, Tuberville said. But the pecking order will be clear.

“We will have one starting quarterback, a guy that everybody knows is our starter,” Tuberville said. “It could change during the year, it might not.”

The other quarterback will serve as a change of pace, a role filled by Burns at times last season, when he spelled senior Brandon Cox.

Whoever wins the job will take the reins of a team with high expectations. Auburn was picked to win the Southeastern Conference’s Western Division at SEC Media Days on Friday.

“It’s kind of different to think you’re going to be picked to win the West when your quarterback is unproven,” Tuberville said. “I don’t think that happens very often, because your quarterback is a guy that’s got to really do a lot.”

Burns played in 10 games as a true freshman last year, including one start. He finished the season 10-for-26 passing for 145 yards, with two touchdowns and an interception. He also ran 54 times for 203 yards and three touchdowns.

Todd, a junior-college transfer, arrived at Auburn in December. He was slowed by shoulder soreness during spring practice, but still impressed offensive coordinator Tony Franklin with his grasp of the offense.

Todd has played in Franklin’s system since the eighth grade. Franklin personally recruited him to Auburn.

Both quarterbacks played well in spring practice. Burns was the star of the A-Day game, completing 14 of 21 passes for 142 yards. Todd was 18-for-27 for 190 yards. Both players threw a touchdown pass.

During spring practice, Franklin repeatedly said the competition would be settled in the fall. Until then, Franklin believed the race helped both quarterbacks improve.

“Competition makes you better if you’re a great player,” Franklin said after A-Day.

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