AUBURN, Alabama -- The decision has been made.

And that decision at Auburn is, well, that there will be no decisions this spring or summer at quarterback.

It's no surprise. Neither Kiehl Frazier, a five-game starter last season, or Jonathan Wallace, a four-game starter, had a stellar performance this spring that turned heads. In fact, quarterback is one of a handful of positions with no set starter heading into the summer.

It's a"dead heat" at quarterback, coach Gus Malzahn says, and one that will not be settled until late August, when three newcomers enter the fold.

"Sometimes that's not a negative," Malzahn said. "Sometimes that's a positive and you've got two guys you feel like can do it. It's a matter giving everybody a fair chance. The quarterback position is a key position. You want to make sure that once you make a decision you're 100 percent right. We'll see who gives us the best chance to win."

The belief among many in the fan base is that Auburn's starting quarterback is not yet on campus. Junior college transfer Nick Marshall will arrive on campus in May and is viewed as the top contender, but Frazier and Wallace will have the upperhand when it comes to preparation and familiarity with the hurry-up, no-huddle offense.

"There's no doubt that's a challenge," Malzahn said. "The challenge for new guys coming in is that during the summer, they've got to have a good understanding of their receivers."

Frazier and Wallace have already developed some chemistry with their receivers, tight ends, H-Backs and offensive line. Frazier, after all, has thrown to these receivers for three years and Wallace set the school's freshman record for pass efficiency last season, starting the final four games to wrap up a disappointing 3-9 season.

Still, the cloud hovering over Frazier and Wallace is Marshall, a junior. Some fans believe he will be the starter when the Tigers open the season against Washington State on Aug. 31.

Frazier and Wallace hear the chatter in the community, too.

"I don't really think about outside opinions like that," said Frazier, who threw two touchdowns and eight interceptions in 2012. "I just think about getting better myself. I know me and Jon are competing real hard, so whenever they get here, they're great players and we'll see what they can do. Right now we're just focusing on getting better ourselves."

Nick Marshall is rated a three-star prospect by the major recruiting services. (Photo courtesy of 247Sports)

Marshall threw for 3,142 yards and 18 touchdowns, but was also intercepted 20 times at Garden City (Kan.) Community College last season. What makes him dangerous is his versatility -- he also ran for 1,095 yards and 19 touchdowns.

Offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee hopes to improve his touchdown-to-interception ratio, just as he and Malzahn did with Ryan Aplin (12 less interceptions from 2011 to 2012) at Arkansas State last season. The offense, which requires quick reads and sometimes a default throwing option, is designed to push the pace by being precise -- all thanks to play design.

Whoever the quarterback is in the fall, they feel certain their numbers will improve from the failed pro-style attack implemented during Gene Chizik's final season as coach in 2012.

Every quarterback -- Frazier, Wallace, Marshall, and freshmen Jeremy Johnson and Jason Smith -- will get a "fair chance" at earning the starting job when fall camp begins in August, Malzahn said. Burying their noses in the playbook, and participating in voluntary throwing sessions and organizing pass skeleton drills with their receivers, will help develop leadership in the summer.

"It's going to be fun. It's going to be great," Wallace said. "It's going to be great for all of us quarterbacks to be able to compete with each other and get better."

All players are on their own under the leadership of the strength and conditioning staff in the summer. There are no practices, no individual instruction. It's when true leaders step up at quarterback, improve and build relationships with their receivers.

The process speeds up in August.

"There's a window of time, whether it's two weeks or three weeks, where as coaches you have to make a decision," Malzahn said. "A lot of coaches will wait until the last day to see who their starter is. My experience is: The earlier the better."

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