DJ Durkin’s coaching debut for Auburn featured a big performance from quarterback Ashton Daniels.
His second game will feature a different quarterback, and it could be Jackson Arnold or Deuce Knight on Saturday afternoon when the Tigers host FCS opponent Mercer, which 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 tremendous for this program and also for him,” Durkin said Monday. “I think he has great football ahead of him, so we are going to do that.”
If Arnold starts. he will be making his 10th appearance. He has thrown for 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 win over Arkansas on Oct. 25 after completing 7 of 12 passes for 73 yards and one interception.
If the Tigers (4-6) turn to Knight, he would play for the second time after appearing during the final minutes of a 42-3 rout of Ball State on Sept. 6.
“We’re going to put together a great plan for both of these guys to have success,” Durkin said. “I told their teammates that it’s their job to rally around them, too. I know those guys will. They feel strongly about that. I’m looking forward to how the entire team responds.”
Whoever is behind center, the Tigers are hoping for a replica of one their better showings on offense.
The Tigers set a season-high for passing yards against Vanderbilt while scoring their second-most points this season. Auburn also totaled a season-best 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 champion, sixth in the FCS coaches poll and unbeaten since a 15-10 loss to Presbyterian in the season opener. The Bears are averaging 41.7 points, which is 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 get an opportunity to go on the road and play a really good Auburn team. I actually think they’re playing with D.J. Durkin because he’s got an edge about him.”
Mercer (9-1) also is allowing 19.7 points per game and 73.7 rushing yards per contest, third in FCS.
“We know this is a challenge ahead for us, so our guys are going to do a great job focusing on Mercer this week,” Durkin said.
Braden Atkinson is second in FCS with 33 touchdowns and tied a school-record by throwing five TDs in Saturday’s 63-17 rout of Chattanooga when Mercer totaled 545 yards and scored on eight of their first 10 possessions.
Atkinson has thrown for at least 300 yards in eight games while also completing at least 60 percent of his passes seven times after inheriting the starting role from Whitt Newbauer, who transferred to Oklahoma.
“Our young quarterback continues to play beyond his years,” Jacobs said.
