Kiehl Frazier was named Thursday by Auburn coach Gene Chizik as the starting quarterback for next week's opener against Clemson.Auburn football coach Gene Chizik announced Thursday that sophomore Kiehl Frazier will be the starting quarterback for the Sept. 1 opener against Clemson at the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Classic in Atlanta.
The 6-foot-2, 228-pounder from Springdale, Ark., played in all 13 games last season for the Tigers, who went 8-5 and thumped Virginia in the Chick-fil-A Bowl. Frazier rushed 76 times for 327 yards and three touchdowns a year ago, but he completed just 5 of 12 passes for 34 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions.
Frazier got the nod over redshirt junior Clint Moseley, who played in 10 games last season but made six starts.
"After a complete and thorough evaluation during spring practice and through the first three-plus weeks of camp, Kiehl Frazier has earned the starting job at quarterback," Chizik said. "We expect Kiehl to be a leader for this team and to continue to work hard every day. I am confident in his ability and leadership skills and look forward to watching him progress in both areas."
Said Frazier: "It feels good, but it's not a final goal. It's a starting point."
With Thursday's announcement by Chizik, only Florida and Ole Miss have yet to determine their starting quarterbacks among Southeastern Conference schools. Making recent decisions were Kentucky coach Joker Phillips, who tabbed Maxwell Smith over Morgan Newton, and new Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin, who selected Johnny Manziel over Jameill Showers.