AUBURN, Ala. — Malik Willis has earned his keep at Auburn.

The question now is whether the quarterback will play as a freshman as a second, third or package option in Auburn’s offense.

Willis has been impressive since his arrival in the spring, and he showed improvement once again in the Tigers’ scrimmage Saturday. He threw two touchdown passes, including a 99-yarder to Marquis McClain, working with the second- and third-team offenses.

The improvement is not lost on Auburn’s coaches, who have a difficult to decision on the table: should they burn the redshirt and allow the true freshman to play as a backup?

“I think that's fair to say (he can play),” coach Gus Malzahn said. “I feel very good about him. The fact that he was here in the spring, too, that really helps. We've got a lot of information with him. He's really matured. Playing quarterback is not just all about going out there and playing; there's a lot more to playing quarterback from a leadership standpoint, setting the tone for practice and everything, studying extra — more than other positions. (Offensive coordinator) Chip (Lindsey) really challenged him after spring and he's answered the bell. We feel very good about him.”

He completed 11 of 18 passes for 157 yards at Auburn’s A-Day spring game in April.

“I was very impressed with him being able to handle himself being at Auburn with a young guy like he was,” Lindsey said in May. “Like you said, he had not played that much quarterback but the other thing that really stood out to me was when he decides to pull the trigger and throw it, it comes out pretty quick. He doesn’t have a long delivery, it’s very smooth and gets out pretty fast.”

Malzahn said he’s more concerned with naming a starting quarterback than figuring out if Willis could fit in Auburn’s plans later in the season., but it’s clear the former three-star, dual-threat prospect is on his mind.

“He’s a guy that I'm real happy with,” Malzahn said. “I mean, he's been throwing the ball very well. He can extend plays, he can really run and he's one of our best athletes on our team. Right now I'd just say the depth of our quarterback position has just really been confirmed. I know Chip would say the same thing.”

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