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Jarrett Stidham: The next big thing at Auburn

By Matt Green

Nov 14, 2015; Waco, TX, USA; Baylor Bears quarterback Jarrett Stidham (3) during the game against the Oklahoma Sooners at McLane Stadium. The Sooners defeat the Bears 44-34. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 14, 2015; Waco, TX, USA; Baylor Bears quarterback Jarrett Stidham (3) during the game against the Oklahoma Sooners at McLane Stadium. The Sooners defeat the Bears 44-34. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
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Baylor-transfer Jarrett Stidham looks to be the next big thing at Auburn.

Must Read: SEC Quarterback Rankings

Let the overreaction begin.

While you don’t want to make too much of a spring game, after all it is just a glorified scrimmage, it will be difficult for Auburn fans not to be excited after what they saw from Jarrett Stidham at A-Day on Saturday.

In the game, Stidham went 16-for-20 for 267 yards. He didn’t throw for a touchdown, but he also didn’t throw any interceptions.

But it wasn’t just about the stats he put up. It was how he did it. And he didn’t waste any time showing the fans what he’s capable of. Here’s what happened on the second play of the game.

He also got it done on the ground. Well, sort of.

Fans are undoubtedly going to overreact to a spring game performance, but it’s understandable. We’ve been waiting over four months for any sort of college football.

But don’t get it twisted. Stidham has done it in live action also.

As a true freshman at Baylor in 2015, he started three games. In those three games against Kansas State, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma State he went 51-for-81 for 934 yards with 6 touchdowns and 2 interceptions.

His final numbers in 2015 were 1,265 yards, 12 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions, while completing 68.8 percent of his passes.

According to the 247sports composite rankings, Stidham was the no. 2 dual-threat quarterback and no. 38 overall player coming out of high school in 2015. He was also the top-ranked JUCO player in the country in the 2017 class. 

And there’s reason for excitement, given the track record of top-ranked JUCO quarterbacks coming into the SEC.

Top-Ranked JUCO QBs in SEC since 2010

2017 – Jarrett Stidham (Auburn)

2015 – Chad Kelly (Ole Miss)

2012 – Bo Wallace (Ole Miss)

2011 – Zach Mettenburger (LSU)

2010 – Cam Newton (Auburn)

Each of those quarterbacks had a lot of success in college, and depending on what happens with Chad Kelly’s off-the-field issues, three of those four could be playing on Sundays.

I’m not ready to start comparing Stidham to Cam Newton by any means, but you better believe Tiger fans have already thought about it.

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