There will be a new QB1 at Auburn next season.
Bo Nix, who has been Auburn’s starting quarterback the last three years, announced Sunday night on his Instagram page that he intends to transfer from the program.
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“This decision has been the toughest I have ever made,” Nix said. “I have made so many decisions for Auburn, and now it’s time to do what’s best for me. It’s time that I move on to the next chapter in my life. To reach further goals, I’ve decided it’s best to be a grad transfer and find a new start somewhere else. I make this decision with a heavy heart and a lot of growing pain.”
Nix started every game he was healthy for during the last three seasons after earning the starting job as a true freshman ahead of the 2019 opener against Oregon. His career on the Plains spanned 34 consecutive starts — a streak that ended last month against South Carolina after he fractured his ankle during Auburn’s loss to Mississippi State a week earlier.
He was the SEC Freshman of the Year in 2019 after passing for 2,542 yards and 16 touchdowns against six interceptions while rushing for another 313 yards and seven scores. That freshman campaign included a game-winning touchdown pass in his debut against Oregon, as well as helping engineer a win in one of the most memorable and wild Iron Bowls of all time.
His time on the Plains was dotted with inconsistencies, as captivating highs were meshed with menacing lows while playing under two different head coaches and three different offensive coordinators during his career. He showed growth as a quarterback this season while working under first-year head coach Bryan Harsin and recently fired offensive coordinator Mike Bobo.
For the first time in his career, Nix completed at least 60 percent of his passes in a season, finishing his injury-shortened junior campaign with a 61 percent completion rate while passing for 2,294 yards, 11 touchdowns and just three interceptions. He set the program single-game record for completion rate in the season opener against Akron, completing 20-of-22 passes (90.9 percent) for 275 yards and three touchdowns, but was also benched three weeks later while struggling in the second half of an eventual comeback win against Georgia State. Questions swirled about his status as QB1 after backup T.J. Finley rallied Auburn to a win in that game, but Nix maintained his starting role and the following week led the program to its first win at LSU in 22 years, relying on his signature brand of backyard football to help secure one of the defining wins of his Auburn career.
Nix finishes his Auburn career as the program’s third-leading passer all-time with 7,251 yards — just 48 yards shy of Jason Campbell for No. 2 on the list — while completing 59.4 percent of his passes and throwing 39 touchdowns and accounting for 57 total scores. He’s also second in program history in career pass attempts with 1,057 and second in career pass completions with 628. Both of those records would have been in reach had Nix either returned for his senior season or finished his junior campaign healthy.
Below is a full transcript of Nix’s remarks:
BO NIX
“I have loved Auburn from the moment I knew Auburn. All I ever wanted to do was win a championship for Auburn. I can truthfully say that I’ve given everything that I have for that goal, and I have played in so many amazing games because of it. Auburn has allowed me to fulfill my lifelong dream of playing in Jordan-Hare and wearing the AU on my helmet. It has allowed me to compete in the SEC and be a part of some historical atmospheres.
“With that being said, when I came to Auburn, I planned on doing two things — I wanted to play football and graduate. I was fortunate enough to do both. I didn’t truly understand how to appreciate my degree from Auburn until I received it. And I have realized it is one of the most special honors I could have gotten.
“Because of that, this decision has been the toughest I have ever made. I have made so many decisions for Auburn, and now it’s time to do what’s best for me. It’s time that I move on to the next chapter in my life. To reach further goals, I’ve decided it’s best to be a grad transfer and find a new start somewhere else. I make this decision with a heavy heart and a lot of growing pain. A wise man once told me that in order to be great, we have to take risks. I don’t know what the next chapter of my life looks like. But I do know whatever it is, God has ordered my steps, and He has a plan for me, like He does for everyone else.
“I am going to miss the moments I’ve had as an Auburn Tiger. To my teammates, my coaches and my friends who have been a part of this journey and have been with me along the way, thank you. I got the experience of a lifetime, and I have accomplished my goal. I believe Auburn is a special place, and it will be when we work together. Because I believe in these things, I will always believe in Auburn, and I will always love it. War Eagle.”
Tom Green is an Auburn beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Tomas_Verde.