Byrum Brown hasn’t yet taken a meaningful snap in an Auburn uniform, but skepticism has already begun to swirl around whether he’s the quarterback capable of jumpstarting the Tigers’ offense under first-year head coach Alex Golesh.
Between clips circulating from spring practices and an underwhelming showing in Auburn’s A-Day Game, some critics have been quick to lump Brown into the same disappointing category as recent Auburn quarterbacks like Payton Thorne and Jackson Arnold. To them, he’s just the latest potential misfire at the game’s most important position.
Brown, however, isn’t fazed by the outside noise.
“I feel like my play will speak for itself once I’m on the field,” Brown told CBS Sports’ Adam Breneman. “There are always going to be doubters and opinions, but I don’t pay attention to that. I know the work I’ve put in, and I’m excited to get out there and play on September 5th.”
Byrum Brown embracing the moment
For Auburn fans, the criticism surrounding Brown may feel all too familiar. Since Bo Nix left the program, the Tigers have struggled to find stability at quarterback. Under Bryan Harsin and Hugh Freeze, Auburn cycled through a long list of options—Thorne, Arnold, TJ Finley, Ashton Daniels, and others—without ever landing on a clear, long-term answer.
That history is exactly why there’s cautious optimism surrounding Brown. He brings proven production and familiarity with Golesh’s system from his time at USF, where he also worked with current Auburn offensive coordinator Alex Gordon. Last season, Brown delivered one of the most dynamic years by a quarterback in the country, throwing for 3,158 yards and 28 touchdowns while adding 1,008 rushing yards and 14 scores on the ground. His performance powered a Bulls offense that ranked third nationally in total offense at 488.7 yards per game and averaged 40.5 points per contest, fifth-best in the FBS.
Still, none of that will matter once the games begin. Brown’s true evaluation will start when Auburn opens the season against Baylor in a neutral-site matchup in Atlanta. That night will go a long way toward shaping how fans, coaches, and teammates view him—and whether he can finally quiet the doubts surrounding Auburn’s quarterback position.