Ex-Baylor QB Jarrett Stidham announces he's going to Auburn

Former Baylorquarterback Jarrett Stidham will transfer to Auburn, he announced Saturday night.

Stidham, ESPN's No. 1-ranked junior college recruit, sat out this season after transferring out of Baylor in July and will be eligible to play in '17 for the Tigers.

Stidham chose Auburn after taking multiple visits to the school this fall and hosting coach Gus Malzahn for an in-home visit Friday. He also considered Florida and Texas A&M during his recruitment.

Stidham threw for 1,265 yards and 12 touchdowns and started three games as a true freshman for Baylor in 2015. He left the school this past summer after the firing of coach Art Briles and elected to sit out the 2016 season and take online courses through McLennan Community College in Waco, Texas, while training for his next opportunity.

Stidham told ESPN this week that his relationship with Auburn offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee was a major reason Auburn emerged as the front-runner in his recruitment. Stidham had been waiting to see where his offensive coordinator at Baylor, Kendal Briles, ended up next, but instead decided to end his recruitment and announce his pledge Saturday night.

Stidham will have three seasons of eligibility at Auburn and could be the front-runner to become its starter this spring. He'll compete with returning quarterback Sean White, who has started nine games this season as a sophomore.

Stidham was the No. 3 QB prospect in the ESPN 300 for the class of 2015. The top two QBs -- No. 1 Kyler Murray (Texas A&M to Oklahoma) and No. 2 Blake Barnett (Alabama to Arizona State) -- also transferred.