With the season opener against No. 2 Clemson just nine days away, Auburn coach Gus Malzahn says it was time to name his starting quarterback.
So he turned over the job to redshirt sophomore Sean White.
"We're excited for Sean," Malzahn said. "He's earned it. He's a guy that has experience in our offense [from] last year. He's a tough guy. He's in a good spot. He's in a good spot to lead this team. The team is going to rally around him. So I'm excited for him.
"I think it will be important that he'll have a good full week to work specifically just with the ones. We've really tried to do a good job of all three guys getting equal opportunities."
White was thrust into the starting role last season after a Week 3 loss to LSU and started five straight games before an injury against Arkansas forced him to miss the majority of Auburn's final four games. In those five games, White completed 59 percent of his passes and threw for 1,063 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions.
The former ESPN 300 recruit also started the Birmingham Bowl but gave way to Jeremy Johnson after White threw two interceptions in the first half.
White beat out both Johnson, last year's opening day starter, and John Franklin III, the top dual-threat quarterback in last year's ESPN JC50 rankings, in a competition that began in the spring. It was also the latest Malzahn had ever waited before naming his starting quarterback, as both a head coach and coordinator.
"I think each individual situation is different," Malzahn said. "That's probably more of a testament to how good the competition was."
Malzahn informed White of the news before Thursday's practice.
"It feels really good," White said. "I feel blessed to be in this position, and I feel responsible to lead the team against Clemson. I'm happy that coach put that responsibility on me. My teammates believe in me, and I feel like they have a reason to believe in me. I think we'll be ready to go come Saturday."