AUBURN, Alabama — Barrett Trotter and Clint Moseley were each minding their own business, trying to slip through an offseason, and quietly laying the foundation to win the starting quarterback job at Auburn.
Then former North Carolina State quarterback Russell Wilson starting making noise about transferring and college football was all a twitter.
The talk that Wilson might bring his 76 career passing touchdowns to Auburn created an Internet stir for a few weeks, especially when Wilson said he was indeed considering the Tigers. Alas, Wilson selected Wisconsin, and Trotter and Moseley are again free to go about their business of trying to replace Cam Newton.
They said they’ve secluded themselves from summer-time distractions, anyway.
“That talk didn’t really change anything at all,” Trotter said. “I don’t really watch or listen to anything, other than what maybe somebody will ask me. I’ll play the dumb card and say, ‘I have no idea,’ because I don’t.”
Now back on the field after having shaken and/or ignored Wilson, Trotter and Moseley are helping run the show during Auburn’s players-only summer practices that began last week. Each are trying to do what they couldn’t do in spring practice: Win the starting quarterback job.
It’s a daunting assignment, especially since they are following a Heisman Trophy winner who helped the Tigers to the BCS national championship. Trotter and Moseley smile when they say their game is different than the star that left.
“I have to remember that I’m not Cam,” Trotter said. “I do things differently — as do most people.”
Summer workouts will lead to fall practice beginning the first week of August. Coach Gene Chizik and offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn will be on the clock to name a starter by then.
Clint Moseley
“Coach Malzahn hasn’t said anything about a timeline,” Moseley said. “The only way to approach it without freaking out is to do what we’ve been doing the whole time and not worry about it, and try to get better every day, as cheesy as it sounds.
“I know I know the plays. I know I can make the plays. I’ve just got to prove it to them I’m trustworthy.”
And when the decision is made, Moseley said he expects a clear divide between the quarterbacks.
“Coach Malzahn sticks with ‘his’ guy. I believe in that, too,” Moseley said. “You can’t have confidence if you’re out there constantly thinking, ‘If I make a bad pass, he’s going to take me out.’ He doesn’t believe in that.
Barrett Trotter
“To play effectively, he believes you have to know it’s yours and develop int
