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Gus Malzahn has a chance to build something around a second-year starting quarterback for the first time in his college coaching career, and he doesn't want anyone interfering with the process.
"You want them thinking exactly like you want them to think," Malzahn said. "When you get multiple people working, there's multiple thoughts, so we want them thinking one way."
The Auburn coach is excited about the future prospects of Nick Marshall, a cornerback-turned-quarterback who led the Tigers to the BCS Championship Game with his fleet-footed runs and big throws down the field. It's also why he wants no one but his coaches working with the rising senior this spring and summer.
Quarterback guru George Whitfield Jr. has expressed interest in working with Marshall this summer, but Malzahn will not allow it. The expectation in January, according to Forbes, was that Marshall and Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston would work with Whitfield this summer, but Malzahn has other plans for his quarterback.
"We've never had anyone work with our quarterbacks while they still had eligibility," Malzahn said Friday. "We feel really good about how we go about it and the success we've had before. There won't be anyone working with our quarterbacks until their eligibility is exhausted."
Whitfield works with dozens of college quarterbacks, and gained national attention for his work with Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel in the offseason. He also worked with Cam Newton, but not until he decided to go pro. Whitfield's workouts in California carry a different tone than those on college campuses, including unconventional workouts on the beach and in the surf.
Whitfield said last week working with Marshall was a possibility, but Malzahn struck it down publicly Friday. Whitfield saw "flashes" of incredible throws from Marshall last season, when coaches relied more on Marshall's feet (1,068 rushing yards, 12 touchdowns) than his arm (1,976 yards, 14 touchdowns).
"What an incredible story," Whitfield told AL.com. "To be an SEC starting defensive back (at Georgia) -- his heart was always at quarterback -- and to find your way back to the position and drive to the front of a different ship and be the quarterback for a different university? There's not a whole lot of guys who can do that. One, the skill sets are drastically and different and the processing and ability to do that, I think, is such an underrated deal. It's like going from catcher to shortstop."
Many high-profile quarterbacks across the country seek extra coaching and training from gurus across the country in the summer, but Malzahn does not allow it at Auburn.
Coaches expect Marshall to be a bigger threat throwing the ball than he has been in the past. He completed only 59.4 percent of his passes in 2013, when the Tigers led the nation in rushing.
"You're seeing flashes of some of those throws," Whitfield said. "He's with, arguably, one of the best quarterback coaches on the planet with what coach Malzahn has done and what he can do with different body types, different models of guys."
Marshall threw the ball more often in the BCS Championship Game, but still misfired on a pair of throws, including a low throw that likely would have resulted in a touchdown on the first drive against Florida State.
Marshall seemed to be more confident as the season progressed, and he made several key passes to lead the Tigers in comeback victories against Mississippi State, Texas A&M, Georgia and Alabama.
"You can see that as the year went on," Malzahn said. "I know coach (Rhett) Lashlee is real excited about that and so hopefully we'll be able to be a little bit more progressive in spring."
Spring practices at Auburn begin March 18
Auburn's Gus Malzahn wants only one quarterback guru working with Nick Marshall | AL.com
"You want them thinking exactly like you want them to think," Malzahn said. "When you get multiple people working, there's multiple thoughts, so we want them thinking one way."
The Auburn coach is excited about the future prospects of Nick Marshall, a cornerback-turned-quarterback who led the Tigers to the BCS Championship Game with his fleet-footed runs and big throws down the field. It's also why he wants no one but his coaches working with the rising senior this spring and summer.
Quarterback guru George Whitfield Jr. has expressed interest in working with Marshall this summer, but Malzahn will not allow it. The expectation in January, according to Forbes, was that Marshall and Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston would work with Whitfield this summer, but Malzahn has other plans for his quarterback.
"We've never had anyone work with our quarterbacks while they still had eligibility," Malzahn said Friday. "We feel really good about how we go about it and the success we've had before. There won't be anyone working with our quarterbacks until their eligibility is exhausted."
Whitfield works with dozens of college quarterbacks, and gained national attention for his work with Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel in the offseason. He also worked with Cam Newton, but not until he decided to go pro. Whitfield's workouts in California carry a different tone than those on college campuses, including unconventional workouts on the beach and in the surf.
Whitfield said last week working with Marshall was a possibility, but Malzahn struck it down publicly Friday. Whitfield saw "flashes" of incredible throws from Marshall last season, when coaches relied more on Marshall's feet (1,068 rushing yards, 12 touchdowns) than his arm (1,976 yards, 14 touchdowns).
"What an incredible story," Whitfield told AL.com. "To be an SEC starting defensive back (at Georgia) -- his heart was always at quarterback -- and to find your way back to the position and drive to the front of a different ship and be the quarterback for a different university? There's not a whole lot of guys who can do that. One, the skill sets are drastically and different and the processing and ability to do that, I think, is such an underrated deal. It's like going from catcher to shortstop."
Many high-profile quarterbacks across the country seek extra coaching and training from gurus across the country in the summer, but Malzahn does not allow it at Auburn.
Coaches expect Marshall to be a bigger threat throwing the ball than he has been in the past. He completed only 59.4 percent of his passes in 2013, when the Tigers led the nation in rushing.
"You're seeing flashes of some of those throws," Whitfield said. "He's with, arguably, one of the best quarterback coaches on the planet with what coach Malzahn has done and what he can do with different body types, different models of guys."
Marshall threw the ball more often in the BCS Championship Game, but still misfired on a pair of throws, including a low throw that likely would have resulted in a touchdown on the first drive against Florida State.
Marshall seemed to be more confident as the season progressed, and he made several key passes to lead the Tigers in comeback victories against Mississippi State, Texas A&M, Georgia and Alabama.
"You can see that as the year went on," Malzahn said. "I know coach (Rhett) Lashlee is real excited about that and so hopefully we'll be able to be a little bit more progressive in spring."
Spring practices at Auburn begin March 18
Auburn's Gus Malzahn wants only one quarterback guru working with Nick Marshall | AL.com
