DJ Durkin’s coaching debut for Auburn was highlighted by a big performance from quarterback Ashton Daniels.
His second game will feature a different quarterback, and it could be Jackson Arnold or Deuce Knight Saturday afternoon when the Tigers host FCS opponent Mercer, who is on a nine-game winning streak.
Daniels completed 31 of 44 passes for 353 yards in a 45-38 overtime loss at Vanderbilt. Durkin, however, decided to preserve the Stanford transfer’s redshirt status by sitting him for this week’s game before bringing him back for the Iron Bowl against Alabama.
“I think it’s great for this program and great for him as well,” Durkin said Monday. “I think he’s got great football in front of him, so we’re going to do it.”
If Arnold starts. he will make his 10th appearance. He totaled 1,278 yards and six touchdowns in his first season with Auburn after spending the previous two seasons at Oklahoma. Arnold was replaced by Daniels in a 33–24 victory over Arkansas on October 25 after completing 7 of 12 passes for 73 yards and an interception.
If the Tigers (4-6) turn to Knight, he would play for the second time after appearing in the final minutes of a 42-3 rout of Ball State on Sept. 6.
“We’re going to come up with a great plan for both of these guys to be successful,” Durkin said. “I told their teammates it’s their job to rally around them too. I know these guys will. They feel very strongly about this. I can’t wait to see how the whole team reacts.”
Whoever is behind center, the Tigers will be hoping for a repeat of one of their best offensive performances.
The Tigers set a season high for passing yards against Vanderbilt while scoring their second-most points this season. Auburn also totaled a season-high 563 yards after being held to 241 yards in a 10-3 loss to Kentucky in Hugh Freeze’s final game as coach.
Jeremiah Cobb rushed for 115 yards while Cam Coleman finished with a career-high 143 yards on 10 catches and Eric Singleton had 11 receptions for 102 yards.
While Auburn is 13-0 against Mercer, the Bears are two-time Southern Conference champions, sixth in the FCS coaches’ poll and undefeated since a 15-10 loss to Presbyterian in the season opener. The Bears are averaging 41.7 points, which ranks fourth in FCS and second in passing offense (344.7 yards).
“A lot of these kids grow up dreaming of playing in the SEC,” Mercer coach Mike Jacobs said. “They’re going to have an opportunity to go on the road and play a really good Auburn team. I actually think they’re playing DJ Durkin because he has an edge on him.”
Mercer (9-1) also allows 19.7 points per game and 73.7 rushing yards per game, third in the FCS.
“We know it’s a challenge ahead of us, so our guys are going to do a great job focusing on Mercer this week,” Durkin said.
Braden Atkinson is second in the FCS with 33 touchdowns and tied a school record by throwing five touchdowns in Saturday’s 63-17 rout of Chattanooga when Mercer totaled 545 yards and scored on eight of his first 10 possessions.
Atkinson threw for at least 300 yards in eight games while completing at least 60 percent of his passes seven times after inheriting the starting role from Oklahoma transfer Whitt Newbauer.
“Our young quarterback continues to play beyond his years,” Jacobs said.
–Field level media
