Auburn quarterback Byrum Brown has the most unorthodox throwing motion in college football. It does not appear as though he plans to make any adjustments prior to his final year of eligibility and first year in the Southeastern Conference.
The 21-year-old fifth-year senior will continue to bring the ball down to his hip before the release.
Although he found success on a lower tier of college football, SEC defenses are different. Don’t be surprised if opposing teams go after his arm!
Auburn is staying away from distractions during fall camp.
Alex Golesh was hired as the successor to Hugh Freeze at the end of December. He is taking Auburn on the road for training camp, kind of. The Tigers are still practicing at their team facility on campus. They are staying at a hotel about nine miles (15 minutes) away.
Players will not be allowed to leave the hotel during fall camp. Coaches will also stay with the players for the next 13 days.
Golesh made this decision to avoid distractions. No girlfriends, no pets, nothing. All football, all of the time.
Alex Golesh on moving his Auburn team to the Grand National Marriott in Opelika for the next 13 days of fall camp:
— The Next Round (@NextRoundLive) August 4, 2026
"There's no nothing. No girlfriends, no dogs, cats, whatever guys are into. It's truly just us for the next 13 days, which is absolutely huge for us. We need it." pic.twitter.com/djmhAD5E0N
While this approach to fall camp is not uncommon, it is more rare in college than the NFL. Golesh wanted to set the tone for his first year at the helm. Most of his roster is new. They are able to only focus on each other.
Byrum Brown did not change his throwing motion.
Auburn got its fall camp underway on Wednesday. The Tigers will look completely different in 2026 than they did in 2025. 13 players followed Alex Golesh from USF to Auburn during the offseason. 26 other players transferred in from other programs.
Starting quarterback Byrum Brown was one of the guys who made the switch with his head coach. He played 35 games in four seasons with the Bulls with an overall record of 18-14. He will be the starting quarterback for the Tigers this fall.
The 6-foot-3, 232-pound signal-caller arrives to the SEC after an impressive campaign in 2025. Brown completed 66.3% of his passes for 3,158 yards and 28 touchdowns with only seven interceptions and ran for 1,000 yards and 14 touchdowns. USF finished at 9-3 with a major upset win at Florida. It was one of the best seasons in program history.
As good as Brown can be, his throwing motion is often subject to criticism. He brings his arm down and around instead of up and back. It is a great example of poor mechanics. It is wonky.
Brown was mocked for his inability to connect with pass-catchers at the Elite 11. Critics attributed his struggles to his motion.
New Auburn quarterback Byrum Brown was unable to connect with his receivers on these throws at Elite 11, where he is a counselor. pic.twitter.com/CSvld8pwjG
— Theodore Fernandez (@TheoFernandez__) May 31, 2026
He did not change his mechanics before fall camp.
Auburn QB Byrum Brown spinning it on Day 1 of Fall Camp. 🏈 pic.twitter.com/ujvJwUovjf
— Touchdown Auburn (@TDAuburnMag) August 5, 2026
Golesh is clearly comfortable with his quarterback of three years.
Here’s some Byrum Brown to Jeremiah Cobb action during drills.
— Justin Hokanson (@_JHokanson) August 5, 2026
Join https://t.co/qbhoJ6G0uK at 75% OFF: https://t.co/JnFZp1qF5J pic.twitter.com/ZR3TlKzTsQ
Auburn is not going to fix what — in their eyes — is not broken.
First look at Auburn QB Byrum Brown throwing during preseason camp. #wareagle pic.twitter.com/73NKOig3VY
— Auburn Tigers | AL.com (@aldotcomTigers) August 5, 2026
Byrum Brown had a lot of success at USF. His awkward motion was never an issue in Tampa. It will be interesting to see whether that is true in the SEC. Defensive players are a lot bigger, stronger and faster.