Bo Nix

Bo Nix should start for Auburn for the third-straight year to begin the 2021 campaign, but there’s a new coach at Auburn in the form of Bryan Harsin, and Nix hasn’t exactly lit the world ablaze during his first two seasons with the Tigers. Though his completion percentage improved slightly as a sophomore, Nix still completed under 60-percent of his throws for under 2,500 yards. He had just one 300-yard passing game to his credit last season, while posting a pedestrian 12:7 TD:INT. Nix has some dual-threat ability, as he rushed for over 300 yards and seven touchdowns for the second-straight season, but is far from a game-breaker with his legs. It will be interesting to see how Harsin handles the quarterback position if Nix continues to be mediocre, as he did not recruit Nix and has highly touted freshman Dematrius Davis waiting in the wings.

Nix had his moments as a true freshman starter for the Tigers in 2019, compiling 23 combined touchdowns while tossing just six interceptions. Nix flashed his versatility as a dual-threat option, rushing for 313 yards on the ground, though he managed just 3.2 yards per tote. While Nix did pass for over 2,500 yards, he struggled with accuracy, completing just 57.6-percent of his throws. That figure placed him 11th of the 12 qualified quarterbacks in the SEC last season. Comfortability with the system and a year under his belt as a starter should help Nix’s cause, though, and he always has his legs to bail him out if he gets in trouble.

Nix is competing with Joey Gatewood to become the next starting quarterback for the Auburn Tigers, replacing Jarrett Stidham who is now in the NFL. A true freshman, Nix is polished beyond his years. The Gatorade Player of the Year as well as Mr. Football in the state of Alabama in 2018, the five-star recruit was considered the No. 1 dual-threat quarterback in the Class of 2019. He set state records for total offensive yards and touchdowns in high school, as his team went 40-2, including back-to-back state titles. Nix does not have the size that Gatewood has, but he enrolled early, impressed in the spring and appears to be firmly in the race for the starting job.