Auburn names Trotter starting QB

Published Aug. 18, 2011 1:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Barrett Trotter is Auburn's starting quarterback.

Coach Gene Chizik said Thursday that Trotter will start the defending national champions' opener against Utah State. He beat out Clint Moseley and freshman Kiehl Frazier.

Chizik said in a statement that Trotter ''worked extremely hard'' and praised leadership and hard work the past three seasons. The junior has only thrown nine passes in three seasons on campus but that's more experience than Moseley or Frazier.

Trotter left high school ranked third all-time in Alabama high school history with 88 touchdown passes. The Birmingham native led his school to the 2007 state semi-finals with 3,469 yards and 47 touchdowns during his senior year.

Trotter was redshirted in 2008 and then missed the following season with a knee injury. He played in five games last season in relief of Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton.

He graduated earlier this month with a degree in communications.

Chizik says Moseley and Frazier ''both have a lot of ability and will continue to improve.''