AUBURN, Ala. -- Brace yourself, Auburn fans. Jeremy Johnson could be your starting quarterback in Saturday’s Iron Bowl.

It was a reality that many fans wouldn’t have thought possible two weeks ago. Johnson, the one-time starter, had fallen to third on the depth chart behind Sean White and John Franklin III, and he hadn’t taken a snap at quarterback since the season opener against Clemson.

When White got hurt before the Vanderbilt game, it was Franklin who started and played the first half before White returned to lead Auburn back in the second. It was White again the next week against Georgia, though he reinjured his shoulder during the game and proved to be ineffective, completing only six of 20 pass attempts for 27 yards.

So Saturday, it was a bit of surprise when Auburn coach Gus Malzahn turned to Johnson against Alabama A&M. The senior played the first half and one drive in the second half and finished 14 of 19 for 147 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed for 42 yards and two scores in what would be his final game at Jordan-Hare Stadium.

“It means a lot,” Johnson said after the game. “It’s just another chance and an opportunity to play with my teammates that I enjoy being around and love a lot. It’s a great win and [gives us] a lot of momentum going to next week.”

Maybe the decision to start Johnson on Senior Night was his reward for sticking it out at Auburn through all the ups and downs in his career. Or maybe there’s a chance White won’t be back for the Iron Bowl, and Malzahn needed somebody who could make throws down the field against No. 1 Alabama.

“I’m very proud of Jeremy,” Malzahn said. “He did an excellent job out there, managed the offense well. He was real efficient throwing the football, had the touchdown. He just did a good job of running the offense.

“I think [playing a game like that] does nothing but help you. When you have experience, that does nothing but help you. He hadn’t played a lot this year, so I think it was good for him to experience that.”

Malzahn said Saturday that the team wasn't ready to make a decision on White’s status yet. It was no different Sunday night when Auburn offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee told reporters that he didn’t yet know who would start. The Tigers return to practice Monday, and the coaches should get a better sense of whether White can go against Alabama.

But if he can’t, Johnson is more than ready to fill in again.

“We’re going to see what happens next week, see how [White] is feeling,” Johnson said. “But if I’m called upon, I’m going to be ready. There’s no fear, no fear in me nor the team. It’s just another game, another opportunity to shock the world.”

Johnson, an Alabama native, started last year’s Iron Bowl. He finished 10 of 23 for 170 yards, but almost half of those yards came on an 82-yard touchdown pass to Jason Smith that Smith batted up in the air before he caught it and ran into the end zone. The touchdown cut the lead to six late in the third quarter, but the Tigers wound up losing 29-13.

Unlike last year, however, Johnson and White aren’t Auburn’s only options at quarterback. There’s also Franklin, a junior college transfer who has elite speed. Franklin rushed for 81 yards and a touchdown on just four carries in Saturday’s win over Alabama A&M.

“He can really run, there’s no doubt about that," Malzahn said. "I thought he did a good job of managing the offense when he was in and made some really good explosive plays. He's a good change of pace."

Maybe White will heal this week and play Saturday. Maybe not. Instead, we could see some sort of rotation between Johnson and Franklin. At this point, five days from the game, it's anybody's guess who will be under center.

“We’re confident,” Auburn running back Kerryon Johnson said. “All the guys get reps with everybody either way. Either way, we’re going to have a quarterback who knows the receivers, knows the running backs, knows the calls, knows all the checks. It’s just up to us to execute at that point.”