The 2012 quarterback derby at Auburn just got a little more wide open as former starter Barrett Trotter announced that he wouldn’t return to the Tigers next season. It’s uncertain whether he will transfer to another school — he’s already graduated, so he could play immediately at a Division I school — or make himself available for the NFL draft. The deadline for that was Sunday.

Trotter, who started seven games in 2011, announced that he wasn’t intending to transfer, but wouldn’t be back with Auburn’s football team. He graduated in August with a degree in communications and is enrolled in graduate school at Auburn.

“My four years at Auburn has been a great experience and I’m thankful for the opportunities that I’ve had, however, I have decided to forgo my senior season,” Trotter said in a statement “I’m truly blessed to have been a part of winning seasons and championships during my time at Auburn.”

Trotter began the season as Auburn’s starter, beating out sophomore Clint Moseley and freshman Kiehl Frazier during training camp. Trotter led the Tigers to a 4-2 record in 2011 before losing his starting job to Moseley during Auburn’s 17-6 win against Florida. He didn’t play in the next five games and wasn’t supposed to in the Chick-fil-A Bowl against Virginia as Trotter didn’t take snaps with the regulars in practice leading up to the bowl.

However, when Moseley went down injured against the Cavs, Trotter he turned in one of his best games of his career, completing 11-of-18 passes, with at least three drops, for 175 yards and a touchdown in Auburn’s 43-24 win. He figured he wouldn’t play and was not wearing his knee brace. Trotter hit 92-of-167 passes for 1,184 yards with 11 touchdowns and six interceptions for the season.

With Moseley and Frazier coming back, it looked as if Trotter would be in the same situation he was in this past season. Auburn’s offense struggled against better defenses with Moseley as the starter and Frazier coming in for mostly running plays. Newcomer Zeke Pike is the only other QB on the roster.

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