Inside Jordan-Hare Stadium for Auburn football's first spring scrimmage: QB battle continues

AUBURN — For the seventh practice of spring, Auburn football scrimmaged for the first time in its 2022 form.

Bryan Harsin's program allowed media to watch the last hour of the scrimmage. Harsin said the Tigers ran about 80 plays. Here are key observations from inside Jordan-Hare Stadium:

First-team offense, defense

Quarterback: T.J. Finley.

Running back: Tank Bigsby.

Receivers: Shedrick Jackson, Tar'Varish Dawson, Malcolm Johnson Jr.

Offensive line (left to right): Kilian Zierer, Kameron Stutts, Jalil Irvin, Tate Johnson, Alec Jackson.

Tight ends (rotating): Brandon Frazier, Tyler Fromm.

Defensive linemen (interior): Marcus Harris, Jayson Jones.

Edge: Eku Leota, Derick Hall.

Nickel: Donovan Kaufman.

Linebackers: Wesley Steiner, Cam Riley.

Cornerbacks: Jaylin Simpson, Nehemiah Pritchett and D.J. James alternating.

Safeties: Caleb Wooden, Cayden Bridges.

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Injured players

Auburn didn't have a few key players on the field Friday. Harsin addressed absences after practice.

Quarterback Zach Calzada remains in a yellow no-contact jersey (shoulder). He's able to practice but can't participate in live action. He won't be fully cleared until after spring practices.

"They're going to keep him in the brace," Harsin said. "He wants to (play), and he can spin it now. He stands back there, and he's getting every mental rep."

Backup running back Jarquez Hunter is out eight to 10 weeks after a procedure for an injured leg. Returning senior center Nick Brahms remains out this spring after undergoing knee surgery in December. A returning starter at offensive guard, junior Keiondre Jones, suffered a minor injury during spring practices but is expected to be healthy by the end of spring.

Offensive lineman Brandon Council is still on scooter and will be out until summer. Senior tackle Austin Troxell is "isn't going, but he looks good," Harsin said. Troxell will likely compete with Jackson for a starting tackle spot.

Backup receiver J.J. Evans is also out about eight weeks.

Safety Zion Puckett is also in a yellow non-contact jersey. The defense isn't as banged up, but senior linebacker Owen Pappoe is still out (ankle), and defensive lineman Marquis Burks is recovering from a minor injury.

Quarterback, running back play

Finley finished the day 7-for-10, Harsin said. Finley is trying to defend the starting job against Calzada, Oregon transfer Robby Ashford and freshman Holden Geriner.

Ashford was the second-team quarterback Friday. All three need some work. Finley zipped a touchdown slant through traffic, but his first-team offense was inconsistent in the red zone. An end zone fade fell incomplete at one point. Ashford smoothly handled two low snaps from backup center Tate Johnson. He can throw darts, but his accuracy needs fine-tuning.

Geriner was intercepted by Wooden, his fellow early enrollee. Wooden returned it a few yards for a touchdown, continuing his breakout spring. He had multiple takeaways during Auburn's first practice.

Meanwhile, running back Tank Bigsby is a force, even behind a somewhat depleted offensive line. At one point, he spun out of a tackle and broke out a huge run. He had nine carries and a touchdown.

Third edge option emerging

One of Auburn's key offseason issues is its lack of depth at the edge position. Hall and Eku Leota are returning starters who both had breakout seasons in 2021, but there was no clear option to share reps behind them.

Enter Dylan Brooks, a rising sophomore and former top-100 overall recruit. He was the highest-rated prospect in Auburn's 2021 signing class, and he's emerging as the next man up at spring practice. He sacked second-string quarterback Robby Ashford twice during Friday's scrimmage.

Tank Bigsby as a punt returner?

The All-SEC running back alternated punt return reps with Dawson, Kaufman and incoming freshman receiver Jay Fair, one of the newcomers who earned a shoutout from Harsin on Friday.

"We're working on it," Harsin said with a wry smile when asked about Bigsby.

Fair muffed a punt at one point, with the cornerback Simpson returning the loose ball for a touchdown.

Auburn had a rough kicking day, with Ben Patton and Evan McGuire both missing field goal attempts. Returning senior Anders Carlson made two 35-yard field goals while practicing on his own.

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Observations from inside Auburn football's first spring scrimmage