Upset-minded Auburn will have quarterback Nick Marshall at its disposal Saturday against No. 7 Texas A&M in College Station, coach Gus Malzahn revealed this week.
Marshall missed Auburn’s win against FCS-side Western Carolina last week after suffering a knee injury in the Tigers’ 30-22 win over Ole Miss on Oct. 5.
“He was locked in during practice last week,” Malzahn said earlier this week. “He practiced Sunday and looked good. Got another week of practice. We’re past the midway point. If it was early in the season, I’d be concerned but not too concerned now.”
Auburn is 5-1 and ranked in the AP Top 25 for the first time since Nov. 12, 2011. On the season, Marshall has completed 71 of 120 passes for 902 yards with four touchdowns and four interceptions, and has rushed 55 times for 288 yards and two scores.
Those dual-threat capabilities -- and that Marshall’s 140 rushing yards against Ole Miss are the most by an SEC quarterback this season -- led one of Marshall’s teammates to offer a rough comparison to Johnny Manziel. That’s certainly lofty, and Marshall will probably have to do his best Manziel impression for Auburn to have a shot Saturday in College Station.