Kodi Burns couldn’t have scripted a better end to spring practice.

The sophomore quarterback was one of the biggest stars of Auburn’s final spring scrimmage Wednesday, throwing for 213 yards and two touchdowns and running for 39 yards. He completed his first 10 passes.

It was exactly the kind of performance Burns had hoped for, a chance to make a statement in his competition with junior Chris Todd for the top spot on AU’s quarterback depth chart.

But at the end of his big day, Burns wasn’t entirely happy.

Instead, he was half-jokingly fuming about an official’s quick whistle, which cost him a rushing touchdown midway through the scrimmage. On the play, Burns appeared to slip past a flailing defender and into the end zone, but the official nearest the play ruled the defender got a hand on Burns’ jersey.

With the quarterback in an orange no-contact jersey, that was enough to end the play.

“They know it was a touchdown,” Burns said with a smile. “They didn’t even touch me. The referee is going to call me down even though they know I’m not down.”

It’s exactly the kind of competitive fire Auburn’s coaches want to see from Burns, who played in 10 games last season.

Offensive coordinator Tony Franklin is especially pleased with Burns’ performance in the final two days of spring practice. In Saturday’s A-Day game and Wednesday’s scrimmage, Burns was a combined 26-of-36 passing for 355 yards

It was a huge improvement over the sophomore’s showing early in the spring, when he struggled to consistently throw a spiral and often missed open receivers.

Burns spent the middle part of the spring reworking his delivery; according to Franklin, the results speak volumes. And the threat of competition from Todd, whose knowledge of the offense is unmatched among AU’s quarterbacks, hasn’t hurt.

“We hoped he would get that good and he has,” Franklin said of Burns. “He’s gotten better, and I think Chris has made him better.

“Competition makes you better, if you’re a great player. He’s gotten better and he’s answered the call.”

Despite Burns’ big day, Franklin said Wednesday’s results didn’t change anything. Todd, who completed 11 of 18 passes for 144 yards, is still even with Burns atop the depth chart.

“It wouldn’t have mattered if one of them at went 25-of-25 and the other was 0-of-25,” Franklin said. “It’s a body of work. That body of work will continue over the summer.”

RB Davis shines
Tristan Davis didn’t touch the ball often Wednesday. But when he did, he made it count.

Davis’ 69-yard touchdown run was the scrimmage’s longest play. It was his first carry of the evening; he added one more, a 6-yard run, before spending the rest of the scrimmage on the sideline.

Head coach Tommy Tuberville said Davis isn’t fully recovered from a foot bruise that cost him 10 practices early this spring. But Auburn’s medical staff cleared the senior to participate in the final three sessions, and Tuberville liked the results.

“It was good that he got hit several times, had to run on it, had to cut on it, knowing that he can play with it hurting a little bit,” Tuberville said. “There’s no structural damage. He pushed through it. It was good to see that.”

Davis heads into the summer as AU’s No. 4 tailback behind Brad Lester, Ben Tate and Mario Fannin. But Tuberville said he is looking forward to seeing the ball in Davis’ hands.

“Hopefully this year will be his year,” he said. “It’s his turn to have an opportunity to have a little luck go his way.”

Injury report
Auburn finished spring practice with eight scholarship players on its injured list.

Tailback Mario Fannin (dislocated shoulder), wideout Tim Hawthorne (broken arm), offensive guard Chaz Ramsey (back), noseguard Jake Ricks (broken hand) and defensive end Antonio Coleman (neck sprain) missed most of the spring.

Linebacker Bo Harris (shoulder) and defensive ends Raven Gray (knee) and Darrell Roseman (shins) each missed all of spring practice after undergoing offseason surgery.

Tuberville also said offensive lineman Lee Tilley, who sat out most of spring practice, will not return in the fall.

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