JEREMY_JOHNSON_AND_NICK_MARSHALL_DAY_1.JPG

Auburn quarterbacks Jeremy Johnson (6) and Nick Marshall (14) warm up during practice Friday, Aug. 2, 2013, at the Auburn Football Complex in Auburn, Ala. (Julie Bennett/jbennett@al.com)

-- The race for Auburn's starting quarterback job appears to be down to two.

Newcomers

Nick Marshall

and

Jeremy Johnson

vaulted to the front of the race over the weekend, earning the right to take the bulk of the Tigers' first-team reps this week as the battle comes closer to a conclusion.

Auburn head coach

Gus Malzahn

and offensive coordinator

Rhett Lashlee

met with the Tigers' four quarterbacks on Sunday afternoon to break down the situation.

"We were just to a point where we really felt like they deserved the opportunity to go out and win the job," Malzahn said. "In order to do that, what we wanted to do was give them more opportunities to show us."

Kiehl Frazier

, Auburn's season-opening starter in 2012,

, leaving sophomore

Jonathan Wallace

to continue battling for the starting job. With Frazier's decision, it ensured that the Tigers will have their 7th straight different starter to open the season.

And if Wallace can't overtake the other two, Malzahn expects him to remain at quarterback.

"We know exactly what we have with Jonathan," Malzahn said. "We have a lot of respect for Jonathan."

Auburn quarterback Nick Marshall makes a throw in practice. (Todd Van Emst/Auburn Media Relations)

Marshall and Johnson have vaulted to the front of the race by dominating Auburn's first two scrimmages, including impressive performances on Saturday as the pair each tossed deep touchdown passes.

A junior college transfer who played cornerback in his first season at Georgia, Marshall is listed at 6-foot-1, 210 pounds, and he's got more speed than the freshman. Johnson, Alabama's Mr. Football, has plenty of size at 6-foot-5, 219 pounds.

"Both of them have extremely live arms. They both can run, and both of them are athletic," Malzahn said. "It’s just a matter of how quick they can get acclimated. We’re still looking for a couple of different situations to see how they react and see how their teammates react."

Auburn's plan is to try to split Marshall and Johnson's reps as evenly as possible with the first team. Both Marshall and Johnson have been praised for their ability to throw the deep ball and their athleticism.

As the Tigers' practices have progressed, they've shown Frazier that they're capable.

"They’re both leaders, and they’re new guys so they're still kind of learning," Frazier said. "They’re both athletic, they both have strong arms and Jonathan, he’s in it too and he shows he’s the most mature probably 19-year-old kid I’ve ever met. Whoever wins the quarterback job, the team’s going to be in good hands."

Both newcomers have also proven that their perceived weaknesses may have been exaggerated.

Marshall, who threw for more than 3,000 yards and rushed for more than 1,000 yards at Garden City (Kan.) Community College last year, also threw 20 interceptions, but he's done a good job protecting the ball in fall camp.

"He's done a solid job up to this point," Malzahn said. "You know, that's our focus, not just Nick, but we're definitely stressing it, Coach Lashlee's stressing it, and so far in fall camp, (Marshall has) done a solid job with it."

Johnson is only a true freshman, but he's played well so far, showing an impressive ability to throw the deep ball.

If Johnson does not win the job, the coaching staff hasn't decided whether or not he'll redshirt yet.

Auburn quarterback Jeremy Johnson (6) works out during practice Saturday, Aug. 3, 2013, at the Auburn Football Complex in Auburn, Ala. (Julie Bennett/jbennett@al.com)

"I’ve said from Day 1, whoever gives us the best chance of winning and being successful will be our quarterback," Malzahn said. "Obviously, it’s tough for a true freshman in this league but if he’s the best and we believe he gives us the best chance of winning, he’ll be our quarterback. He’s got a chance."

Asked if there was a specific thing each quarterback needed to show to win the job, Malzahn responded by saying the Tigers would look at it as a total evaluation.

The Tigers have another scrimmage scheduled for Tuesday.

"It's not just one thing when you're evaluating a quarterback," Malzahn said. "You know, who can get the ball in the end zone, who can protect the football, who's coachable, who has command over the offense and who can handle the pressure. We're straining them right now."

And Auburn's head coach is about to turn up the pressure.