Auburn QB Jarrett Stidham declares for NFL draft
The Music City Bowl will be the final game for Jarrett Stidham in an Auburn uniform. Stidham is entering the NFL draft, he announced Tuesday evening.
Thankful. pic.twitter.com/FgmTxyFUAh
— Jarrett Stidham (@Jarrett_Stidham) December 4, 2018
The Tigers are set to play Purdue in the Music City Bowl on Dec. 28 and Stidham will play in the game — the first game since the departure of offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey.
The quarterback transferred to Auburn after he began his college career at Baylor. Stidham was the team’s starting quarterback for the past two seasons and his 2017 season was much better than 2018.
Stidham was 246-of-370 passing for 3,158 yards, 18 touchdowns and six interceptions as Auburn won 10 games and the SEC title last season. This season, without running back Kerryon Johnson, Stidham’s production has slipped. He’s 209-of-348 passing for 2,421 yards, 13 touchdowns and five interceptions for the 7-5 Tigers.
“Jarrett has been a terrific player for us the last two years, leading us to an SEC West title and becoming one of the most prolific passers in Auburn history,” Auburn coach Gus Malzahn said. “He has tremendous ability and a bright future ahead of him. I look forward to seeing Jarrett perform one more time in an Auburn uniform and can’t wait to see him playing in the NFL next year and for years to come.”
Stidham played as a freshman at Baylor in 2015 and transferred in the wake of the sexual assault scandal at the university. He sat out the 2016 season and went to a junior college before he enrolled at Auburn. He’ll likely be a mid-to-late round pick in the draft.
The news of his potential NFL departure isn’t a surprise — he’s already graduated — and comes in the lead-up to Kelly Bryant’s transfer decision. The former Clemson quarterback is set to announce his new school Tuesday evening and is reportedly choosing from Arkansas, Auburn and Missouri.
If Auburn does not land Bryant, it will likely turn to Malik Willis, Stidham’s backup the past two seasons. Willis has appeared in 11 games over the past two seasons, completing 10-of-13 passes for 64 yards and a touchdown. He also has rushed for 257 yards and two scores on 25 carries.
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Nick Bromberg is a writer for Yahoo Sports.
Follow @NickBromberg on Twitter
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