Auburn Head Coach Gene Chizik Says Kiehl Frazier Will Be Starting QB

Kiehl Frazier will be the starting quarterback this season for the Auburn Tigers. Auburn Football’s official Twitter page reported head coach Gene Chizik’s decision:

"

Coach Gene Chizik has announced that Kiehl Frazier will be Auburn's starting quarterback #WarEagle

— Auburn Football (@FootballAU) August 23, 2012"

Frazier, a sophomore, battled for the starting position with junior Clint Moseley.

Last season, Frazier’s main contribution came on the ground. He racked up 327 yards on 76 carries while scoring three touchdowns. But he only attempted 12 passes.

Moseley completed 61.1 percent of his passes last season and tossed five touchdowns compared to three interceptions. He was the starter for the final six games of the Tigers’ 2011 season.

Frazier, who was named USA Today’s Offensive Player of the Year during his senior season in high school, is a phenomenal talent. He came to Auburn as a 4-star recruit and was ranked No. 89 in his class by Rivals.com.

He is a dangerous runner, but he has yet to get a chance to show off his passing ability against SEC defenses. According to Charles Goldberg of the Huntsville Times, as the starter under first-year offensive coordinator Scott Loeffler, Frazier will get that opportunity.

Frazier has impressed in the offseason, and he will certainly continue to use his legs as a weapon. His Auburn player profile notes that he racked up 102 total yards in the team’s A-Day scrimmage, earning him MVP honors.

The talented sophomore will lead his team through a difficult 2012 schedule that includes games against Alabama and LSU. It will be an intriguing year for the 19-year-old as he battles through the toughest conference in college football.