Auburn Tigers Football's Burning Questions: The Quarterbacks

With Outback Bowl practice winding down until after Christmas and recruitment in a "dead period" until January 4, let's take a look at some questions every Auburn fan would love to know the answers to (and many of us think we do know). 

Today I'll focus on what is definitely the hottest topic on the Plains...

Burning Question 1: Who will be the 2010 starting quarterback?

Since the departure of Brandon Cox, there has been a quarterback race/controversy every year, with many of them taking far too long to be decided for the Auburn faithful.

Perhaps this question would be answered more easily after another, equally-intriguing question is answered: "Will prized junior college quarterback Cameron Newton sign with the Tigers?"  Newton was in Auburn this weekend, and by all accounts, he was very impressed by his visit to the Plains.

This has been a surprise to many, as Auburn has shown no interest in signing a quarterback this year.  One reason could be that the high school quarterback class is not very strong. With that said, Newton has played on a higher level and led his Blinn College team to the junior college National Championship, finishing with 655 rushing yards, 2,833 passing yards, and 22 touchdowns through the air. 

Auburn may not have been looking for a quarterback, but if Newton signs he will count against last year's class, and it is hard not to give a player of his abilities a shot.

If Newton does sign with the Tigers, he may be the odds on favorite for the starting job, but there are still a few signal callers on campus that have a shot to get the nod:

Neil Caudle - The senior has certainly paid his dues and many thought he would be starting last September.  In mop-up duty, Caudle showed he has the ability to get into the second level and make things happen with his feet, an attribute that will most certainly add yet another dimension to Gus Malzhan's high-octane offense.  He also looked sharp passing, but the long-time knock on Caudle is that he has a propensity to find the wrong team when putting the ball in the air.

Barrett Trotter - The redshirt sophomore was also in the running for the starting job last spring until he went down with a torn ACL.  Trotter is also a very mobile quarterback that was a standout at Briarwood Christian in Birmingham.  Trotter should be one of the favorites going into next season (barring re-injury), whether Newton signs or not.

Tyrik Rollison - The sophomore was rumored to be the most talented quarterback in Auburn upon his long-awaited arrival last Fall.  He must have shown the coaches something to avoid be redshirted.  But that also could be attributed to the lack of depth under center. 

The word on Rollison is, well, the jury's still out.  It was never certain that he would actually make it on campus this fall, and now, for the same reasons, he will not be traveling with the team to Tampa.  The latest Newton courting could be an indicator of Rollison's future. But remember, Rollison is a rare talent who can run and throw the ball extremely well; and with a couple of years to polish his game practicing under Malzhan, he could still very well be the quarterback of the future.

Clint Moseley - Moseley, who impressed everyone running the scout team offense, looks to be the wild card next season.  Gus Malzhan stated that he heard nothing but positive things about the redshirt freshman, and when bowl practice began and Malzhan saw him for himself running his offense, he agreed with the good reviews.

In high school, Moseley led Leroy to three State Championships and was 2008 Alabama Mr. Football.  He seems to have the intangibles, and at 6' 3" 200lbs, he has the frame to add weight and become an ideal size college quarterback.

There are certainly countless scenarios that could play out before September 4, 2010, but barring more major injuries or attrition, this quarterback race should definitely be the most watched and scrutinized in recent history on the Plains, whether Cameron Newton is there or not.

With the talent at the skill positions that emerged in 2009 and the most anticipated recruiting class in years coming in, many think the quarterback position is the missing piece of a SEC Championship run in 2010. 

Though this may be a bit presumptuous, there is reason to believe that a solid, mobile signal caller could give defensive coordinators in the SEC headaches week after week. 

Coming Next:

Burning Question 2:  Who will be the 2010 Starting Running Back?