The Golesh Era's First Big Question: Inside Auburn's Quarterback Competition
As summer workouts continue on the Plains, the battle to be QB1 between Byrum Brown, Locklan Hewlett, and Tristan Ti'a remains the central storyline of the 2026 offseason.
A new era of Auburn football is in full swing under Head Coach Alex Golesh, who is navigating his first full offseason since taking the helm on November 30, 2025. After a season that ended with a loss in the Iron Bowl, the focus has squarely shifted to the future. The most pressing question on the Plains as the calendar flips to summer is a foundational one: who will lead the Tigers' offense?
Currently, the starting quarterback position remains undecided. The competition is a three-man race, featuring a trio of signal-callers vying to impress the new staff. The depth chart includes Byrum Brown, Locklan Hewlett, and Tristan Ti'a, all of whom are locked in a battle for the top spot.
The evaluation process has been ongoing for months, with the April 18th spring game at Jordan-Hare Stadium serving as a major public showcase. Under the watch of new Offensive Coordinator Joel Gordon and Defensive Coordinator DJ Durkin, the coaching staff has been meticulously assessing the candidates. However, no frontrunner has been publicly named, indicating the competition will extend deep into the summer and likely into fall camp.
As Auburn moves through the Spring Ball & Recruiting 2026 season, the decision Golesh and Gordon make at quarterback will be the most significant of the offseason. It will not only define the offensive identity for the upcoming season but also serve as the first major stamp of the new coaching regime as it seeks to build its program for the future.
Published 4 months ago
Staff
Staff writer for SEC Saturday Wire covering college sports.
Process Notes & Methodology
The core idea is to focus on the most concrete and compelling information available: the quarterback competition under a new head coach. This is a classic offseason narrative that allows for discussion of the new staff and the team's future direction, which is well-supported by the provided context.
The introduction hooks the reader by establishing the new era under Head Coach Alex Golesh and immediately pivoting to the unresolved QB situation, which is anchored by the 'head_coach' and 'qb1: null' facts.
The body is built around the named quarterbacks in the 'qb_depth' list (Brown, Hewlett, Ti'a) and the new coordinators (Gordon, Durkin). I also referenced the past spring game date to ground the timeline of this ongoing competition.
The conclusion looks forward to fall camp as the next major milestone for the QB decision, connecting this offseason story to the ultimate goal of preparing for the new season and moving on from the 2025 Iron Bowl loss.
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