Malzahn: QB Nick Marshall “very unique” athlete

AUBURN, Ala. (AP) — Auburn coach Gus Malzahn says starting quarterback Nick Marshall is “very unique” and one of the best athletes he’s coached at that position.

Malzahn said Sunday night that the battle to win the job was tight “but the bottom line is when Nick knew what to do he outperformed the others.”

Malzahn declared Marshall the starter Saturday after it came down to him, freshman Jeremy Johnson and Jonathan Wallace.

The junior college transfer is the biggest dual threat of the contenders after rushing for 1,000 yards and passing for 3,000 last season.

Marshall says he has high goals but “I’m going to bust my tail to achieve my goals and I know the team’s going to help me do that.”

Malzahn says Wallace is No. 2 and Johnson “2A.”