Barrett Trotter viewed his first A-Day game not from the field or sideline, but sitting on the wall next to the players’ tunnel in the south end zone Saturday.

The former Briarwood Christian quarterback entered the spring as the No. 3 signal caller for the Auburn Tigers, but tore his left ACL Thursday while making a cut during a play in practice. He’ll undergo surgery in Birmingham April 26. Dr. James Andrews will perform the surgery.

“I thought I’d been having a great spring and then for that to happen so late and the last practice before A-Day, you hate it. But it happened, so it’s just something you’ve got to live with,” Trotter said.

Trotter is one of many injuries the Tigers have suffered during a physical spring practice.

“We’ve had a lot of fluke ones and part of that’s been because of a very physical spring. There were four or five guys not out there today we would have liked to see participate,” head coach Gene Chizik said. “It’s been a physical 13 or 14 days. Those guys are tough guys. We have a great medical staff, and we’re going to get them going.”

Offensive coordinator Gus Malzhan was disappointed with the loss, but called Trotter “a true competitor.”

“It’s unfortunate, but he’ll bounce back. He’ll be helping me with the quarterbacks, and he’ll see things from a different standpoint, which will be better for him in the long run,” Malzhan said.

One person that will be helping Trotter bounce back is starting quarterback contender Neil Caudle.

“I’m just trying to be there anywhere I can,” said Caudle, who tore both ACLs in high school at Spain Park. “It was tough for me having it twice … I’ve been there before, and I know what it’s like. I feel like I should guide him through the process.”

Fellow Briarwood alum Andrew McCain is also trying to keep Trotter’s head up.

“He’s obviously been down a little bit like anyone would,” McCain said. “I’ve just been trying to tell him to keep his head up. He’s young and has so much time. It seems like forever ago that I was his age.”

Trotter received a redshirt as a freshman in 2008, but practiced heavy midseason with the offense before the West Virginia game, as talk rose that he may get a shot at being No. 1. He and Caudle battled for the No. 2 spot through the remainder of the fall.