Although Byrum Brown has yet to take a single live snap for Auburn in an actual game, the transfer quarterback is already facing scrutiny following a poor showing in the Tigers’ annual A-Day scrimmage.
Longtime SEC football analyst Paul Finebaum, who rarely shies away from blunt observations, suggests that Brown’s status as Auburn’s starting quarterback is far from guaranteed even though Brown followed new head coach Alex Golesh from USF.
“Alex Golesh is obviously tied to Brown, for good reason,” Finebaum said. “But he also knows where he is. If Brown can’t cut the competition, I don’t think he’ll last. That’s too much at stake.”
Paul Finebaum questions whether Alex Golesh made a mistake in bringing Byrum Brown to Auburn
Concerns about Brown may be premature, but they surfaced after his struggles in the April 18 spring game, where he threw two interceptions. Meanwhile, Oregon State transfer Tristan T’ia showed flashes of being capable of leading Auburn’s offense this fall.
Still, as with many spring games, those results don’t carry over to the real season. Plenty of players have shined in April only to fade in the fall, while others have done the opposite. Brown remains the strong favorite to start when Auburn opens the season against Baylor, but if his struggles continue, it would be wise for Golesh not to become too attached.
Why? Because that very attachment may have been the downfall of Golesh’s predecessor, Hugh Freeze, who appeared to bank on Payton Thorne and Jackson Arnold as quarterback solutions after bringing them in via the transfer portal—only to see them fall short of expectations. And with Ashton Daniels transferring to Florida State and quickly becoming the Seminoles’ starting quarterback, the pressure has intensified on Golesh to fix what has plagued Auburn for years.
Brown has undeniable talent, having thrown for 3,158 yards and 28 touchdowns while rushing for 1,008 yards and 14 scores. Yet a jump from the American Conference to the SEC might prove too steep. If so, Golesh will face a difficult decision.
