Auburn Football: Top 5 spring 2019 breakout candidates

Yes, two quarterbacks on this one list. It could even be three, but I decided to give the underclassmen priority over a guy like Malik Willis.

Joey Gatewood was one of the top recruits in the Tigers’ 2018 class, but he was able to retain that redshirt, sitting behind both Willis and Jarrett Stidham in the pecking order. Heck, he was likely behind Cord Sandberg, too, which made the redshirt even more understandable.

Now that he’ll have an entire offseason to work, he’s going to be a scary presence when the season kicks off in the fall, but even if you look at him today. The redshirt freshman quarterback is 6-foot-5 and about 237 pounds of pure muscle, making him a load to take down — that’s Cam Newton-esque size which is music to Auburn fans’ ears.

Gatewood could probably play a number of difference positions, but he has a strong arm and he can tuck and run with it when he faces pressure. As long as he gains confidence this spring, he’s my quarterback to beat in the race for No. 1.

People seem to forget he’s still in the mix with all the hype surrounding Bo Nix and the presumption that Willis and Sandberg are up there battling it out, too, because they have experience, but Gatewood is a talent to watch.