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Auburn quarterback Nick Marshall (14) works out with Auburn offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee during an Auburn practice Thursday, Jan. 2, 2014, in Newport Beach, Calif. Auburn will play FSU in the BCS National Championship Monday, Jan. 6, 2014. (Julie Bennett/jbennett@al.com)

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According to the calendar, spring is still a few weeks away, but the start of Auburn's spring practice looms in a little less than two weeks.

With the start of spring practice on the horizon, we're going to break down an Auburn position group each day for the next two weeks as we get closer and closer to the Tigers' first practice on March 18.

BY THE NUMBERS

Nick Marshall:

Jeremy Johnson:

Johnathan Wallace:

THE DEPARTED

All three of Auburn's quarterbacks return.

SPRING CAST

Nick Marshall, Sr.

Jeremy Johnson, So.

Jonathan Wallace, Jr.

ON THE WAY

Sean White, Fr.

BURNING QUESTION

-- Will Marshall be able to take the next step as a passer and offer Auburn's offense a new dimension heading into his second season as the starter?

STAR ATTRACTION

Marshall became a revelation by season's end, transforming Auburn's offense with his combination of speed on the outside and knack for making big plays in the passing game. Down the stretch, opposing defenses largely focused on slowing down Marshall on the zone read, and he still turned in four 100-yard rushing performances, plus 99 yards against Alabama in the Iron Bowl, as well as several key throws down the stretch.

But Marshall's biggest strength is his leadership ability. Cool and calm in pressure situations, Marshall directed four fourth-quarter comebacks, repeatedly coming up with big plays late in games. Now, as he heads into his second season as the starter -- the first time

Gus Malzahn

has been able to coach the same starter two years in a row at the collegiate level -- Marshall will try to become a more consistent, accurate passer, particularly now that he'll presumably have an improved group of receivers, all while maintaining the same dynamic ability in the running game that gave defenses so many fits last season. Malzahn has hinted over and over again that Auburn will throw the ball more in Marshall's second season, particularly after Marshall improved greatly as a thrower in the second half of the season; it's up to Marshall to match the same incredible game-by-game improvement he made in his first season as starter.

FLASH OF POTENTIAL

Barring an injury or a surprise,

Jeremy Johnson

is firmly entrenched as Marshall's backup, and he's proven he has the capability to step in and play effectively after Marshall battled injuries in two games last season. Johnson, more of a pure pocket passer, has a big-time arm and solid accuracy, but the freshman still hasn't played much against premier SEC competition; the bulk of his throws came against Western Carolina and Florida Atlantic, the two weakest opponents on Auburn's schedule. Johnson will likely remain the backup; as much as Marshall runs, the Tigers have to have a capable backup in place in case of injury.

WILD CARD

Jonathan Wallace

, who started the final four games of the 2012 season, has fallen behind Johnson on the quarterbacking depth chart, but that doesn't mean he won't have a role in the 2014 season. Malzahn tinkered with using Wallace in certain sub-packages in 2013, and it's not out of the question for Auburn's coaching staff to come up with another role like that, although it's not likely. In any case, toward the end of the season, Wallace was learning to play the role of holder for place kicks that is being vacated by

Ryan White

, and that means Wallace may get a chance as a two-point conversion specialist, a favorite tactic of Malzahn's.

ON THE WAY

Sean White

will arrive in the summer, and the freshman is more than willing to spend his first year learning behind Auburn's two experienced quarterbacks. An accurate passer who performed well when thrown up against elite competition, White is expected to be more of a pocket passer than a player like Marshall, and the Tigers' depth at quarterback right now will allow White to learn before being thrown into the fire, barring a rash of injuries.

FACTS OF LIFE

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Nick Marshall

's debut season ended with the quarterback in the single-season record books, tied with

Pat Sullivan

for second in touchdowns responsible for with 26 and third in single-season total offense with 3,044 yards.

QUOTABLE

-- "It's very exciting. We've never had that before. This'll be the first time that's happened, and the fact that we know a lot more about Nick, he's getting more and more comfortable with the offense, you could see that as the year went on. I know Coach Lashlee is excited about that. Hopefully, we'll be able to be a little more progressive in spring." --

Gus Malzahn

, on having the same starter two years in a row