There’s a general perception of Auburn’s Wide Receiver Room.
The rotation is (allegedly) lacking in talent. Therefore, according to the media, Auburn will struggle with his passing game.
Narratives from preseason suggest the Tigers as a whole lack talent, cohesion and unity… and will eventually fall apart once the season begins. While there’s reason to believe that the whole spring Bryan Harsin fiasco affected the dressing room and shaken ties within the program, everything that’s come out in the media since then has been nothing but positive. Auburn gathers.
In addition, they still have some talents on the list. According to 247Sports’ Blue Chip Ratio, 54% of Auburn’s current roster is made up of four- or five-star signers, which is good for 15th place nationally.
Let’s look specifically at the recipients and their talent. Though Auburn is ranked No. 13 by the SEC in the preseason SEC rankings and is described by Lindy’s as a corps “in desperate need of playmakers,” Auburn’s beginning wide-receiver rotation has the fifth best average star rating (all ratings are from the 247Sports Composite) in the SEC.
If the Tigers have the talent on paper, wouldn’t these preseason predictions base Auburn’s “lack of playmakers” on Bryan Harsin’s inability to develop the space?
Look at last season’s numbers.
In 2021, Auburn’s passing offense averaged 240.1 yards per game (vs. the 220.1 yards per game the team averaged in 2020 — with two NFL draft picks in the unit, may I add), which was only good for 59th place nationally. However, this is Auburn’s best yards per game since 2004…back when Jason Campbell pitched to Courtney Taylor and Devin Aromashodu. With a “lack of playmakers,” the Tigers pulled off their best passing game of the 21st century.
All of this despite Harsin firing receiver coach Cornelius Williams four games into the season.
With Eric Kiesau, the former receiver coach, stepping into his new role as offensive coordinator, who did Auburn think was right to walk into the WR room and fire as a new man?
Ike Hilliard, an NFL receiver coach who has a track record of nothing but high-quality pass catchers and consistent development.
If anything, the Tigers should keep things going. Around 240 passing yards, similar production, etc. More likely to see players like LSU Koy Moore, freshman Tar’Varish Dawson, and converted tight end Landen King Breakout trade and help bolster what could be a pretty deep unit.
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