Barrett Trotter Won't Return in 2012: Who Will Win Auburn's Starting QB Battle?

Auburn QB Barrett Trotter, who had the unfortunate task of trying to replace star Heisman and national championship-winning quarterback Cam Newton this past season, has announced that he will not be playing for the Auburn football team in 2012. 

Trotter, who started seven games for the Tigers this past season, will instead be focusing his full efforts on graduate school.

The news isn’t exactly earth-shattering as Trotter was in no way guaranteed to be the team’s starting quarterback going into next season, but it’s an interesting development nonetheless, as Gene Chizik and the Tigers will now have to find both a new starting quarterback and a new starting running back for next season.

Just a few weeks ago, star tailback Michael Dyer, who rushed for 1,242 yards in 2011, announced that he would be transferring after being suspended from the Chick-fil-A Bowl.

With Trotter and Dyer both gone, along with offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn who left Auburn to take the head-coaching job at Arkansas State, the Tigers will now certainly have a different look on offense in 2012.

The question now becomes, who will grab the reigns and win the starting quarterback job?

The two main competitors figure to be Clint Moseley and Kiehl Frazier. Moseley attempted 108 passes in 2011, while Frazier attempted just 12, but it was Frazier who came to Auburn with much more fanfare as he was one of the top-rated quarterback prospects of the 2011 recruiting class.

Auburn also currently holds a commitment from Zeke Pike out of Kentucky’s Dixie Heights high school. Pike is rated as a four-star recruit by both Rivals and Scout recruiting services, and he’s the type of big, pro-style drop-back passer that should fit in very well in Auburn’s new offensive scheme. 

Moseley will be the most experienced of the three, with Frazier being the most versatile and Pike looking like he ultimately has the most upside as a conventional passer.

That’s what should make Auburn’s quarterback battle one of the most interesting position competitions in college football this offseason.

With a ton of returning talent on defense, a more experienced offensive line and a trio of dangerous offensive playmakers comprised of RB Onterio McCalebb, WR Emory Blake and TE Philip Lutzenkirchen, the Tigers have everything they need to make a run in the SEC West in 2012.

Well, that is, everything but a quarterback.

It should be interesting to see who emerges as Auburn's starter by the time September rolls around. 

Frazier will likely be the fan-favorite to win the job, but don't count out Moseley or Pike, especially with the expected change in offensive philosophy.