If there’s one thing that has been lacking for Auburn over the last few seasons, it’s quality depth at the QB position. Now, that problem may be solved.
Today, former Baylor QB Jarrett Stidham announced that he has committed to the Auburn Tigers. He reportedly first told Taylor Hamm of GigEm247 this evening. He then made it official on Twitter.
These last 6 months have been crazy and the craziness is finally over. Time to start my next chapter at Auburn University! WAR EAGLE! pic.twitter.com/BckaHMO6D3
— Jarrett Stidham (@Jarrett_Stidham) December 10, 2016
Stidham is listed at 6’3, 210 lbs and was the nation’s #2 dual threat QB for the 2015 signing class. He played in 10 games for the 2015 Baylor Bears. He became the starter late in the season after Seth Russell suffered a neck injury against Iowa State. Before his own injury, Stidham was 75/109 (68.8%) for 1265 yards. He threw 12 TD passes and just 2 INTs. He attempted 36 rushes for a total of 70 yards.
Here’s the thing, though… most of those stats were compiled in just three games. He saw mostly mop-up duty until the 8th game of the season. Against Kansas State, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma State he was 51/81 (63% completion percentage) for 934 yards, 6 TDs and 2 INTs (both against Oklahoma).
On first glance, his season stats compare to Sean White’s. It’s the moment you realize he was only the full-time starter in three games that you realize why so many people are excited about him becoming a Tiger. He still has to beat White for the starting job, but if nothing else we know that there are two experienced QBs with talent on the roster in case one goes down with an injury.
When Art Briles was fired from Baylor, Stidham announced his intentions to transfer. A connection between Briles and Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn led Stidham to look into the Auburn Tigers. He saw a perfect fit for his talents in Malzhan’s offense and made his decision to join the Tigers.
It wasn’t an easy recruitment. Getting any QB to leave his home state – especially when that state is Texas – isn’t easy. Stidham’s girlfriend is still a soccer player for Baylor, so it was obviously a tough choice for him to go so far from home. If you followed his recruitment, then you could see that he probably wanted to go to Texas A&M more due to proximity to home, but ultimately the Aggies didn’t want to risk losing their incoming freshman commit Kellen Mond. There was also the issue of where his former coaches – particularly Kendall Briles – would end up.
Ultimately, though, he developed a good relationship with Gus Malzahn and Rhett Lashlee and decided that Auburn was the place for him.
THE HIGHLIGHTS
So, with Stidham we have a nice advantage when it comes to highlights. We can get you the High School stuff that shows why he was the #2 DT QB and we can also get you some video of his time as a true freshman at Baylor leading their offense in 2015 before he was injured.
HS Highlight:
Baylor at OSU:
Are we excited? Yes, we are.
THE CLASS
Stidham’s commitment jumps the Tigers way up the board. They go from 12th in the nation, and 6th in the SEC to 6th in the nation and 5th in the SEC just behind Texas A&M. Stidham, remember, is a 5* QB, so that is what gives the Tigers a huge jump.
The Tigers may not even be done at QB. They’re still recruiting former commit Lowell Narcisse hard. Stidham has three years of eligibility remaining, but the Tigers would still like to bring in another potential future QB.
This is possibly a nuclear-level BOOM.