Auburn coaches sensed the junior quarterback isn’t playing with the same level of confidence he had in his standout debut performance in last year’s season-opener against Arkansas.

Johnson completed just 59.7 percent of his passes (43-of-72) while racking up six interceptions.

But don’t tell that to Malzahn, who swore during his press conference Tuesday that the switch wasn’t “an emotional decision”. “Today is when (offensive coordinator) Coach (Rhett) Lashlee and I really made the decision. We feel comfortable calling everything”, Malzahn said during Wednesday’s SEC coaches teleconference. “Sean White is a guy that has got a lot of reps”. He’s got a lot of champion in him and we’re going to be there to support him. I think this will be his first action ever.

“I don’t think the play, as far as getting the information, I don’t think that is the issue”, Malzahn said.

“(White) is very accurate.

Blake Countess and Shon Coleman met with the media Tuesday morning ahead of Auburn’s game against Mississippi State. We are expecting him to.

White, a freshman, was a four-star recruit in the 2014 class.

“It doesn’t change our game plan at all really”, Mullen said.

In his senior year in high school, White passed for 2,679 yards and 30 touchdowns. “And he’ll be ready if he’s called upon”.

Malzahn said receivers Jason Smith and Jonathan Wallace, both former quarterbacks, will get some practice time at their old position.

Malzahn said he’s hoping Lawson will be able to return this season. “You have to do what you feel is best for your team and your offense each week”. I’m looking forward to seeing Sean.

Mastrole has worked with White since the eighth grade and believes he’s a rare quarterback who mentally gets it and is mature enough to avoid the stage becoming too big. LSU routed Auburn 45-21. LSU drove for 486 total yards of offense to Auburn’s 260.

White hasn’t played a game for Auburn yet.

“Sean’s our starter for this game”.

Malzahn said State quarterback Dak Prescott is “one of the better players in our league. That’s the way we’re doing it, and we’re thinking about nothing but Mississippi State“, Malzahn said.

LSU will enter Friday’s match on a three-game win streak. Perhaps it does. But before you go penciling in a win for the Bulldogs, let us take a stroll down memory lane as a reminder that sometimes these situations do not turn out as expected.