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Nick Marshall, the junior college transfer, has won Auburn's starting quarterback job after 18 training camp practices. (Todd Van Emst/Auburn Media Relations)

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Nick Marshall

, the junior-college transfer with the big arm and lightning-quick feet, has officially won Auburn's starting quarterback job, according to a release.

Nick Marshall makes a throw during an Auburn scrimmage on Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2013 at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala. (Todd Van Emst/Auburn Media Relations)

Marshall beat out

freshman Jeremy Johnson and sophomore Jonathan Wallace

in a training camp battle that covered three scrimmages and a key situational practice on Saturday.

After Saturday morning's practice, Tigers head coach

Gus Malzahn

met with offensive coordinator

Rhett Lashlee

to make a final decision that came roughly three hours after Malzahn's press conference ended.

"Nick Marshall has emerged and earned the right to be our starting quarterback,” Malzahn said in a statement. "As I’ve said, we wanted to go with the guy that gives us the best opportunity to win football games and Nick is that guy."

Marshall, who landed at Auburn after being dismissed following his freshman season at Georgia and subsequently transferring to Garden City (Kan.) Community College, was the nation's most coveted junior college quarterbacks, drawing heavy interest from Kansas State and Baylor, among others.

Beyond his physical gifts, Marshall possesses good football smarts and an ability to pick up offenses quickly, and he grasped Malzahn's hurry-up, no-huddle offense well in the first 18 days of practice.

"He has caught on quickly in the short period of time he has been with us," Malzahn said. "He is a playmaker with a big upside, and once he becomes more comfortable with the offense, he has the chance to improve each week."

The shortest of the Tigers' three quarterbacks at 6-foot-1, 210 pounds, Marshall possesses incredible athleticism and an ability to create something out of nothing.

"How athletic he is and how fast he is and his ability to extend the play and make things happen with his legs, it's something you just have to watch," tight end C.J. Uzomah said. "He's a blazing guy. It's something kind of special."

Marshall produced big numbers at Garden City, racking up 3,142 passing yards, 1,095 rushing yards and 37 total touchdowns, but he threw 20 interceptions and struggled at times with ball security.

But those turnover issues at Garden City haven't been a problem in Auburn's hurry-up, no-huddle offense, an offense geared to limiting turnovers.

Auburn quarterback Nick Marshall (14) works out during practice Friday, Aug. 2, 2013, at the Auburn Football Complex in Auburn, Ala. (Julie Bennett/jbennett@al.com)

"Nick is a guy who's very calm in the pocket, under control," Malzahn said in his Tiger Talk appearance Thursday night. "He's very quick, and he can run. He's got a very good arm, it's just a matter of him getting used to the reads and everything that goes with that."

Behind Marshall, Auburn's offense has been prolific in several scrimmages, combining a good running game with a big-play passing game.

An offense that badly needs to bounce back after a disastrous 2012 is starting to find some confidence.

"It's really starting to flow now," H-back Jay Prosch said. "It's starting to look like an offense. It's starting to come together and it's exciting."

Installing Marshall as the starting quarterback adds a big piece of the puzzle.