Byrum Brown discusses his ‘evolving’ relationship with Alex Golesh

Auburn FootballAuburn Tigers quarterback Byrum Brown (17) throws against the Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles during a game at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala., Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (Will McLelland/AL.com)Will McLellandBy Creg Stephenson | cstephenson@al.comByrum Brown and Alex Golesh have been essentially joined at the hip for four years, first at South Florida and now at Auburn. Brown, the Tigers’ first-year quarterback, was featured on SEC Nation Saturday ahead of Auburn’s home game against Florida. He told SEC Network’s Marion Crowder his relationship with Golesh — who spent three years at USF before going to Auburn in December — has been a big part of his success.“It’s evolved in numerous ways,” Brown said, “as a man and as a player. I can go to him about anything. I know he has my best interest at heart. My family, they trust in him deeply and I’m truly grateful for having this relationship with him and being here with him as well. I can’t wait to see do what we’re doing.”South Florida head coach Alex Golesh, left, talks to quarterback Byrum Brown (17) during a timeout in the first half against North Texas in an NCAA college football game Friday, Oct. 10, 2025, in Denton, Texas. (AP Photo/Richard W. Rodriguez)APBrown first became the starter at USF in 2023, Golesh’s first year as head coach of the Bulls. He missed all but six games in 2024 due to a broken leg before re-gaining his starting job in 2025, a time he said was important to his development as a quarterback.“You go through a phase where you’re not able to do something that you love every single day,” Brown said. “And it truly taught me the importance of just staying in the moment, staying one day at a time, knowing that I have the confidence and the confidence that Coach Golesh put in me as well. … So I appreciate him, to this day, for sure.”Brown now stands 6-foot-3, 235 pounds, but that hasn’t been the case long. He grew from 5-foot-8 to 6-2 during one six-month stretch in high school.Brown said he became a complete quarterback during that time.“I think it changed it a lot, obviously having to learn in your body,” Brown said. “Then it was COVID, and I was just doing something every single day, so I was getting faster, getting stronger. I’d say it changed for the better, allowed me to utilize my legs and always had an arm to throw the ball. That time you weren’t playing, you were just training and just focusing on yourself, and it was extremely useful.”Auburn (2-0) faces Florida (2-0) in its SEC opener at 6 p.m. Central Saturday at Jordan-Hare Stadium. The game will air live on ESPN. Creg Stephenson became college sports managing producer for AL.com in 2026. A veteran of more than 30 years as a sports writer, he is a past president of the Alabama Sports Writers Association and has won...