Auburn football: 5 questions the Tigers must answer in 2020

1. Auburn football: Can Bo Nix take a big step forward?

For as much as we can talk about the defense potentially taking a step back or the rushing game not being a certain commodity or even the offensive line being a major question mark, the 2020 Auburn football season hinges on Bo Nix. The team will go as far as the quarterback, who Malzahn has done nothing but prop up since his arrival, can take them.

There’s no question that Nix had his moments as a true freshman and ended the season with nice counting stats. He threw for 2,542 yards with 16 touchdowns and six interceptions along with seven rushing scores as well. However, his inconsistent accuracy and overall ability to make plays as a passer were questionable at times, evidenced most clearly by his 57.6 percent completion rate.

Nix will have plenty of weapons around him. Even if Whitlow is gone from the backfield, there are talented options in that group. More importantly, wide receivers Seth Williams and Anthony Schwartz are bonafide playmakers. Which is why it all comes down to whether or not the young quarterback is able to make a leap.

As mentioned, he could be asked to contribute a bit more as a runner. But the crux of his success in the 2020 season is whether or not he improves as a passer. He must become a more accurate thrower who can make plays to all levels of the field. If that doesn’t happen, this season could take a dark turn as the supporting cast simply isn’t as good as a year ago, meaning they won’t be able to bail Nix out when he’s off his game.

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