aubiefifty 16,624 Posted August 15, 2017 Share Posted August 15, 2017 oanow.com Sean White’s Auburn career suffers another setback | Football Josh Vitale | AU Writer Follow on Twitter Like on Facebook 6-8 minutes Auburn quarterback Sean White goes through Tiger Walk before A-Day on Saturday, April 8, 2017 in Auburn, Ala. Every time Sean White’s career at Auburn takes a step forward, it seems to follow with two steps back. White took over for Jeremy Johnson as the team’s starting quarterback in Week 4 of the 2015 season, but lasted only five games before suffering injuries that would sideline him for four of the next five games. The Boca Raton, Fla., native was named the Tigers’ Week 1 starter nine days before last season after beating out Johnson and John Franklin III, but played only a few snaps before getting replaced in a quarterback carousel that saw all three signal-callers play in a loss to Clemson. Even when White found success, it didn’t last: Last year, during Auburn’s midseason six-game winning streak, the redshirt sophomore completed nearly 73 percent of his passes for 1,107 yards and totaled eight touchdowns. But a shoulder injury suffered in the fifth game at Ole Miss ended up limiting him in a loss at Georgia and costing him the final two games of the regular season. Two weeks later, the quarterback who would eventually take White’s job — Jarrett Stidham — committed to Auburn. Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn named Stidham the starting quarterback on Monday and said that White would be the team’s backup. In the battle between the redshirt junior and true freshman Malik Willis for that spot, the head coach said, there was “really not a debate.” “Sean White is a guy that we have a lot of confidence in. obviously, has won games, has performed extremely well at a high level in this league when he’s been healthy,” Malzahn said. “Sean is a great competitor. Sean is very mature. He's going to do everything in his power to help this team win.” All in!! WarEagle — Sean White (@SeanWhiteAU) August 14, 2017 White was given a chance to keep hold of the starting job he ended last season with. He spent the spring limited to noncontact work as he continued to recover from a fractured right forearm suffered in the Jan. 2 Sugar Bowl — another one of those steps back — but Malzahn and first-year offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey maintained throughout that they wouldn’t name a starter without seeing White back at full strength, first. He was this fall, going through eight practices and two scrimmages with no limitations. But it wasn’t enough to overcome Stidham, who has done little but impress since he joined the Tigers in December. “I’m not going to say it was really anything that Sean really fell short of. As a matter of fact, like I said earlier, I’m confident that Sean is better right now than he was last year,” Malzahn said. “I think it’s more of Jarrett. Jarrett performed at an extremely high level. I don’t think it’s anything I would say negatively about Sean.” Along with being lauded for his leadership ability, work ethic and study habits, Stidham excelled on the field, completing 16 of 20 passes for 267 yards and rushing for a touchdown on A-Day. “He’s smart, he’s athletic, he’s got a good arm, he’s got all the tools and everything,” White said of Stidham after that performance. “At the end of the day, he plays for Auburn just like you. So when he throws a good pass, I get excited. How could you not? He plays for your team. That’s how I look at it. We’re playing on the same team.” White, not yet cleared for contact at that point, watched A-Day from the sideline. He’ll start his redshirt junior season there, too. But, per Stidham, the team’s new backup quarterback was “nothing but supportive” after the decision was announced. And, at the very least, White does give Auburn arguably the most experienced and proven backup quarterback in the SEC, if not the country. There aren’t many teams that can boast a second-stringer who completed 63.9 percent of their passes for 1,679 yards and nine touchdowns in 2016. “Sean White could start for a whole lot of teams in this league,” Malzahn said. “The quarterback depth right now is very high.” Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auburn quarterback Sean White goes through Tiger Walk before A-Day on Saturday, April 8, 2017 in Auburn, Ala. Every time Sean White’s career at Auburn takes a step forward, it seems to follow with two steps back. White took over for Jeremy Johnson as the team’s starting quarterback in Week 4 of the 2015 season, but lasted only five games before suffering injuries that would sideline him for four of the next five games. The Boca Raton, Fla., native was named the Tigers’ Week 1 starter nine days before last season after beating out Johnson and John Franklin III, but played only a few snaps before getting replaced in a quarterback carousel that saw all three signal-callers play in a loss to Clemson. Even when White found success, it didn’t last: Last year, during Auburn’s midseason six-game winning streak, the redshirt sophomore completed nearly 73 percent of his passes for 1,107 yards and totaled eight touchdowns. But a shoulder injury suffered in the fifth game at Ole Miss ended up limiting him in a loss at Georgia and costing him the final two games of the regular season. Two weeks later, the quarterback who would eventually take White’s job — Jarrett Stidham — committed to Auburn. Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn named Stidham the starting quarterback on Monday and said that White would be the team’s backup. In the battle between the redshirt junior and true freshman Malik Willis for that spot, the head coach said, there was “really not a debate.” “Sean White is a guy that we have a lot of confidence in. obviously, has won games, has performed extremely well at a high level in this league when he’s been healthy,” Malzahn said. “Sean is a great competitor. Sean is very mature. He's going to do everything in his power to help this team win.” All in!! WarEagle — Sean White (@SeanWhiteAU) August 14, 2017 White was given a chance to keep hold of the starting job he ended last season with. He spent the spring limited to noncontact work as he continued to recover from a fractured right forearm suffered in the Jan. 2 Sugar Bowl — another one of those steps back — but Malzahn and first-year offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey maintained throughout that they wouldn’t name a starter without seeing White back at full strength, first. He was this fall, going through eight practices and two scrimmages with no limitations. But it wasn’t enough to overcome Stidham, who has done little but impress since he joined the Tigers in December. “I’m not going to say it was really anything that Sean really fell short of. As a matter of fact, like I said earlier, I’m confident that Sean is better right now than he was last year,” Malzahn said. “I think it’s more of Jarrett. Jarrett performed at an extremely high level. I don’t think it’s anything I would say negatively about Sean.” Along with being lauded for his leadership ability, work ethic and study habits, Stidham excelled on the field, completing 16 of 20 passes for 267 yards and rushing for a touchdown on A-Day. “He’s smart, he’s athletic, he’s got a good arm, he’s got all the tools and everything,” White said of Stidham after that performance. “At the end of the day, he plays for Auburn just like you. So when he throws a good pass, I get excited. How could you not? He plays for your team. That’s how I look at it. We’re playing on the same team.” White, not yet cleared for contact at that point, watched A-Day from the sideline. He’ll start his redshirt junior season there, too. But, per Stidham, the team’s new backup quarterback was “nothing but supportive” after the decision was announced. And, at the very least, White does give Auburn arguably the most experienced and proven backup quarterback in the SEC, if not the country. There aren’t many teams that can boast a second-stringer who completed 63.9 percent of their passes for 1,679 yards and nine touchdowns in 2016. “Sean White could start for a whole lot of teams in this league,” Malzahn said. “The quarterback depth right now is very high.”
kd4au 1,145 Posted August 15, 2017 Share Posted August 15, 2017 I'm a big SW fan, but JS just looks better from what I've seen. Hope SW sticks around we may need him if the injury bug bites. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CleCoTiger 1,957 Posted August 15, 2017 Share Posted August 15, 2017 I'm a fan of Sean White. If there's been a QB at AU in recent history who has come in more unheralded and then shown the kind of determination, desire and moxie on the way to becoming a starter and winning some games for our Tigers, I'm hard pressed to recall who it would be. I wish Jarrett Stidham all the success in the world leading the AU offense as the starting QB. And I am also very glad to know that if he should get dinged up and have to come out of the game for a few plays here and there during the season that our Tigers have Sean White to come in and spell him. I'm repeating myself here but I'll say again, with Stidham and White both ready to go, I feel as good as about the QB situation for our Tigers as I have in a long while. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LKEEL75 2,566 Posted August 17, 2017 Share Posted August 17, 2017 I know many have speculated that SW is still injured and some have said he is close to 100%. Does anyone know for sure if he will be 100% by GS? I would hate to burn a redshirt for MW in first game because we are leading and want to put in the 2nd string. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CleCoTiger 1,957 Posted August 18, 2017 Share Posted August 18, 2017 8 hours ago, lkeel75 said: I know many have speculated that SW is still injured and some have said he is close to 100%. Does anyone know for sure if he will be 100% by GS? I would hate to burn a redshirt for MW in first game because we are leading and want to put in the 2nd string. I dunno about 100%. Then again I don't know that he isn't 100% already. Regardless, I would think that if he's been healthy enough to go through the full fall practices and scrimmages that he's likely healthy enough to come in and spell Stidham for a few plays if the need should arise. (That said, if someone does come in for Stidham, I hope it's because we are blowing GS out or for an equipment issue or some other minor thing. I'd like to see our Tigers get through the season with the starting QB entirely intact. ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDUBB4AU 5,071 Posted August 18, 2017 Share Posted August 18, 2017 Sw is a true auburn man. Great great kid. I believe he transfers after 17. Willis will pass him on depth chart, not to mention the possibility of fields coming on board. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toddc 13,194 Posted August 18, 2017 Share Posted August 18, 2017 What if JS goes NFL after this year, could SW still win the qb1 job in 2018? If he improved this much since last year where might he be in 2018 under tutoring from ccl for another year? Maybe we will need him if we miss on JF, or is mwillis gonna pass SW by? Just crazy thoughts that enter my brain sometimes! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LKEEL75 2,566 Posted August 18, 2017 Share Posted August 18, 2017 12 hours ago, toddc said: What if JS goes NFL after this year, could SW still win the qb1 job in 2018? If he improved this much since last year where might he be in 2018 under tutoring from ccl for another year? Maybe we will need him if we miss on JF, or is mwillis gonna pass SW by? Just crazy thoughts that enter my brain sometimes! Not really crazy thoughts but many on here have said that JS will not go NFL unless he is graded to be high first round. JS has supposedly said he will be back next year no matter what. Either way the tea leaves are saying that MW will pass SW on the depth chart next year if he is here. Arm strength is apparently his "achilles heel". I am with many others on here and believe he transfers after this year no matter what. He has been a great young man for AU but it may just be time for him to move on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djg0017 726 Posted August 18, 2017 Share Posted August 18, 2017 4 hours ago, lkeel75 said: Not really crazy thoughts but many on here have said that JS will not go NFL unless he is graded to be high first round. JS has supposedly said he will be back next year no matter what. Either way the tea leaves are saying that MW will pass SW on the depth chart next year if he is here. Arm strength is apparently his "achilles heel". I am with many others on here and believe he transfers after this year no matter what. He has been a great young man for AU but it may just be time for him to move on. Wow I didn't realize it's looking like JS will return. I had kind of written him off as a one-year wonder. It makes sense that he may not want to leave unless a 1st rounder. 2018 draft probably wouldn't be the best for him to compete for a 1st round pick anyway. Hope he stays. As for Sean, I hope he can have a Jeff Driskel-like comeback as a grad transfer -- if he does transfer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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