Auburn’s receiver room is being built with a simple idea in mind: more options, more depth, less drop-off.
At SEC Media Days, Alex Golesh said he wants to be able to lean on as many as eight wide receivers this season, a telling number for a group that had to be reconstructed through the transfer portal this offseason. With Auburn’s offense expected to move at a brisk pace under Golesh and offensive coordinator Joel Gordon, the need for bodies who can hold up over a 12-game season only grows.
“The goal is to get really two-deep at every single position,” said Auburn wide receivers coach Kodi Burns. “When you’re an 11 personnel team and you’re two-deep at every position, that gets you about six and we’d like ideally anywhere from six to eight.”
That math matters. Six dependable receivers gives Auburn the baseline Burns is after. Eight gives the Tigers a little more insurance, with extra players ready to stay in the main rotation if injuries start to hit.
Burns said it’s still early in camp, but he likes the way the room is trending. Five of Auburn’s incoming receivers came from South Florida, so they already know Burns, Golesh and the offense, which should help the group settle in faster.
“I think the goal is build depth,” Burns said. “We gotta develop these young guys. We have guys with experience, but at the same time, it’s all about development in this camp.”
Freshmen DeShawn Spencer and Brian Williams Jr. have already started pushing into the rotation, which helps Auburn get closer to that six-to-eight target. Burns also has a clearer read on what he has from Chas Nimrod, Keshaun Singleton, Jeremiah Koger and Christian Neptune, while the next step is finding a few more receivers who can match that level over the next month.
Burns said the progress has been steady since spring practice.
“I think every single rep these guys get they get more confident,” Burns said. “A lot of guys have proven already, and now you come up to the big boy leagues, and they continue to do that. And if you can prove it against this defense in practice, which I think is top 5, top 10 in the country, you’ve got something.”
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Auburns First Padded Practice Sent Some Early Camp Signals
Auburns first padded practice of preseason camp on Aug. 8 at the Woltosz Football Performance Center offered the kind of early clues coaches and followers look for this time of year. Once the contact gear came on, the Tigers drills gave a clearer picture of where things stood up front and how the offense was starting to sort itself out, especially along the line and in the passing-game work.
The wideout group also began to take shape during the public viewing window, with Chas Nimrod and Keshaun Singleton helping set the tone in receiver rotations. Those early pecking-order hints matter in camp because they can point to who is earning the first chances once the real evaluation begins, even if there is still plenty of time for the depth chart to shift. [Read more 🡒]
Auburn Camp Is Already Revealing Who Could Shape The Baylor Opener
Auburn opened preseason camp in shoulder pads with the media able to watch part of practice, and even that first day offered a few clues about how the roster is lining up for the Baylor opener. Some players were working with the training staff, others were absent or in non-contact jerseys, and the early drills gave a first glimpse at possible depth chart order at several spots. There were also encouraging signs on the field, including Dallas Walker IV looking lighter and DeMarcus Riddick moving at full speed as camp got underway.
The first day also came with the usual mix of early-camp rough edges, including drops during drills that stood out in a practice built more for evaluation than headlines. For Auburn, though, the bigger takeaway is that the opening stretch of camp is already helping sort out who can be counted on when the season begins, and who still has work to do before the Tigers settle on their most trusted options. [Read more 🡒]
Auburn Gets Its First Real Look At Byrum Browns Command
Auburns first full-pads practice of fall camp arrives Saturday, closing out the Tigers opening week and giving the staff a better read on where things really stand. Alex Golesh said the team will be in pads every fourth practice, and for now he sounds pleased with the offenses progress as Auburn starts turning summer optimism into something more tangible.
The bigger early development has been Byrum Brown, who has quickly become one of the louder voices in the huddle. Brown has already shown more confidence than he did in spring practice, and this stretch of camp is where Auburn gets its first real chance to see how that command holds up once the contact level rises and the competition tightens. [Read more 🡒]