The 2011 class of dual-threat quarterback prospects may have been one of the most talented group in the modern era. According to Rivals' rankings, Braxton Miller, Brett Hundley, NC State's Jacoby Brissett, Oklahoma State's J.W. Walsh, Teddy Bridgewater and Kiehl Frazier rounded out the top-10. Ranked at 12th, 13th and 14th were Marcus Mariota, Johnny Manziel and Texas Tech's Michael Brewer.
Of that trio, Frazier was clearly the most underwhelming in his inaugural season as a starter at Auburn, passing for 753 yards, two touchdowns and eight interception in as season where he failed to pass for 200 yards in a single contest. Frazier was a 3,000 yard passer and 1,000 yard rusher who accounted for 64 total touchdowns in his senior season at Shiloh Christian High in Springdale, Arkansas, but the Tigers quarterback could never translate his three straight state championships into any semblance of collegiate success. Ultimately, new head coach Gus Malzahn decided to give the majority of first team reps to Nick Marshall and highly-touted athletic freshman Jeremy Johnson. Frazier read between the lines and asked to be moved into the defensive backfield.
Via CBS Sports:
Gus Malzahn said he and offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee met with all four quarterbacks — Frazier, Jonathan Wallace, junior college transfer Nick Marshall and freshman Jeremy Johnson — on Sunday. There the decision was made to give a majority of the first-team reps to Marshall and Johnson.
"We told them all that, 'Hey these two new guys, we feel have earned the right to compete for the job and they're going to get the majority of the reps with our ones this week,'" Malzahn said. "That's not to say that Jonathan Wallace will not be the starter come Day 1, but we are going to give those two new guys a real chance to compete for the job and really show what they can do."
