WR's need ‘every little thing right’ for success this season

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Young Auburn WR's need ‘every little thing right’ for success this season

By Giana Han

5-6 minutes

Wide receivers coach Cornelius Williams’s first season at Auburn is going to be a balancing act.

While he inherited a room full of talent — one that former Auburn wide receivers think might be the most talented yet — he also inherited a room with practically no game experience.

There will be little room for error as Williams tries to find the balance between bringing out that skill and overcoming that youth.

“There have only been a few guys that have had some real game action,” Williams said. “We have to do every little thing right in order to be a much better group and continue to gain that experience.”

The Tigers were on the verge of having an extremely experienced wide receiver room heading into the 2021 season. In 2020, there were two junior starters and a senior who had an extra year because the NCAA declared that the 2020 season wouldn’t count towards eligibility.

But juniors Seth Williams and Anthony Schwartz, the top two targets, declared early for the draft, and senior Eli Stove, the third-most targeted and -most productive player, decided it was time to move on and try his chances in the NFL as well.

While it left less experience for Williams to work with, the clean slate further opened up the competition at the position.

Whenever there’s a new coach, everyone gets to start fresh to some extent. But as head coach Bryan Harsin has said, there’s still some sort of pecking order, if not a depth chart. With those three gone and Ze’Vian Capers injured, the pecking order isn’t quite there among the wide receivers.

It’s the perfect time to step up, and Williams has been impressed with how his players have responded to the situation.

“These guys are definitely trying to step up to the challenge,” Williams said. “They have taken pride in trying to be the best at their craft. I think they have done a pretty solid job thus far. We have a lot of things we have to continue to work on and get better at.”

Shedrick Jackson is the most experienced wide receiver Williams has to work with. Stove described Jackson, who he switched in and out of the starting rotation with, as a quiet leader among the receivers.

And then there’s the class of 2020. Both Stove and Schwartz said the wide receivers from that class, which makes up 43 percent of the position group, is one of, if not the most, talented classes they’ve seen come through Auburn.

That year includes Capers and Hudson, who were tied for fourth in catches among the wide receivers. They both played in all 11 games. Capers was injured before Williams arrived, but Hudson has already impressed Williams.

“The thing with Kobe is that he is actually, in my opinion, a natural-born leader,” Williams said. “The thing that Kobe has to continue to do is continue to work on his craft, continue to get better, but he showed some flashes that he has the talents to be really, really special.”

The class also includes Elijah Canion who, in just two games, moved into fifth for most receiving yards with 84 yards, just four behind Jackson. Stove thinks Canion could make a big leap his sophomore year, and former safety Jordyn Peters also mentioned Canion as a sleeper. Canion has been asking Williams questions since before Williams even arrived at Auburn, proving his dedication to improvement.

While neither J.J. Evans nor Malcolm Johnson Jr. made it into the receiving stats in 2020, they were both highly regarded recruits who now have a year of practice against SEC defensive backs. Evans was a top-five recruit from the state of Alabama. Malcolm Johnson Jr. reclassified, which may have affected his rating, but he was still a four-star and came with a reputation for speed.

Everyone, from the class of 2020 and beyond, is working hard and showing dedication. However, Williams made sure to single out one player in particular — Ja’Varrius Johnson.

“A guy that really has kind of stood out and a guy I was already familiar with, just from recruiting at other places I have been, is Ja’Varrius Johnson,” Williams said. “He has been one of the most consistent guys.”

Williams acknowledged that the redshirt sophomore’s size (he’s listed at 5-foot-10) is going to be a challenge, a reason for people to doubt him. But Johnson also has speed, and Williams has coached players before who can overcome their size with the ability to separate.

Johnson’s consistency has been rewarded. At the open practices, he could be seen taking reps with the ones as well as the returners on special teams. If he continues to tighten up the details and if Auburn uses him correctly, Johnson will definitely help the Tigers, Williams said.

It’s going to take work. It’s going to take time. It’s going to take effort. But, Williams said, “we have the guys.”

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I'd be interested in WR's perspective on CCW vs CKB.