Robby Ashford’s seven-yard touchdown run in the rain during the first quarter of Auburn’s A-Day scrimmage on Saturday that ended in a 24-24 tie illustrated the quarterback’s potential. He darted around would-be tacklers and sprinted into the end zone.

Ashford is in a competition to be starting quarterback with T.J. Finley and redshirt freshman Holden Geriner. Likely, the battle results won’t get revealed until after fall camp before the September 2nd home-opener against UMass.

Another eye-catching play was perhaps the best offensive play from either quarterback was a 39-yard completion to Tar’Varish Dawson in the second quarter of the abbreviated scrimmage.

Read More Auburn Football: 3 positions that may need a boost for Auburn’s defense after A-Day

Hugh Freeze feels ‘better’ about Auburn’s QBs after A-Day, but transfer portal remains in play

What Hugh Freeze said during the A-Day press conference

“I saw it just open up so I kind of had to just abort my whole drop and just get it to him and it felt good coming out my hand,” Ashford describing the pass. “You know, it’s raining so it’s like, ‘Ooh.’ You know, I normally never get the ball to throw that good in the rain, coming out feeling good. So it was just good to connect on that. Chick’s had a great spring, too, so that’s just nothing new to see him do that.

A torrential downpour limited the Tiger offense in the passing game against the defense. Ashford threw it three times and had the one completion to Dawson, primarily because of the rainy day, but he won the offensive MVP of the spring game with 38 rushing yards and a touchdown.

“The conditions weren’t ideal, but just going out there with guys, having fun. Credit to those fans who showed up,” Ashford said after Saturday’s scrimmage. “It was pouring out here but showing up and showing their support. We appreciate that. It was fun to go out there and end the spring strong with the guys. These 15 practices have been fun. It was good to be back in the crib, back in the most beautiful stadium in the world. You can’t beat it.”

Freeze appreciates Ashford’s progress and believes there’s more potential for him.

“Robby got better. He’s really been fun to coach,” Freeze said. “And I think he’s trying to change some of the things that may have caused — at least my concern — being the quarterback and the leader, whether it be body language or ball security or your demeanor in general, the way you talk, the way you talk to your teammates. I don’t know if anybody has really challenged him like I did this spring with that.”

Ashford struggled with shoulder injuries last season and, at times, looked overwhelmed in games. His running ability is elite, especially for a quarterback. He has unique arm talent, but can he be a viable starting quarterback for a winning team in the Southeastern Conference? Ashford believes his experience under former head coach Bryan Harsin last season and his work with Freeze will positively answer the abovementioned questions about his ability.

“I’m not going to sit here and lie, I wasn’t there mentally like I felt like I needed to be. Coach Freeze brought me aside, and we just talked,” Ashford said. “He challenged me to be that guy, that leader. If I feel like I’m getting in a down space, come to him. Don’t say it around everybody, just come to him. Just to hear that from him means a lot because he’s a coach that cares. He’s challenged me every single day, and it’s been fun. I can’t wait to see where this goes and continue to compete and get better every single day with the best coaches in the country.”

Nubyjas Wilborn covers Auburn for Alabama Media Group.