Auburn quarterback Jeremy Johnson is in the middle of a quarterback battle heading into the 2016 season. Currently, he's battling sophomore Sean White and graduate transfer John Franklin III for the starting gig. Although Johnson struggled significantly during the 2015 season, he's still very much a part of the quarterback competition. However, according to a new report from 247Sports Johnson would be willing to play a different position this season if he was asked to — i.e. if he doesn't get the starting QB job.
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"He's an Auburn guy. He's going to graduate from Auburn. He's been there four years. Whatever it takes to get Auburn back where it needs to be, he's willing to do it," said Billy Gresham, Johnson's high school coach of two years via 247Sports. "Every player wants to start. Every player wants to be good at what they do. But for him, he's a great teammate first. ... If he feels like he's probably not that guy, if somebody else is best for the team, he'll follow that leader."
Gresham did add that this doesn't mean that you need to count Johnson out of the QB competition immediately — Johnson came in November last year for an injured White and three for 132 yards while completing 13 of his 17 passes for 132 yards, and leading Auburn to its largest SEC victory of the season, 26-10.
"Last year really showed him that you've got to be tough to deal with some adverse situations, especially being a high-profile quarterback," said Al Pogue, one of Johnson's other HS coaches. "But I think, when it's all said and done, the kid's going to be ready to go. He's not going to shy away. Whoever Auburn brings in to battle with him, he's not going to shy away from him. They're going to have to beat Jeremy Johnson."
We'll see if Gus Malzahn names a starter before the Tigers open their 2016 season against Clemson on Sept. 3.
[H/T: 247Sports]
