Auburn Offense: Week 1 Position Grades

Aug 30, 2014; Auburn, AL, USA; Auburn Tigers receiver

(82) runs for a touchdown against the Arkansas Razorbacks during the first half at Jordan Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports

Wide Receivers

D’haquille Williams exploded onto the scene in his first game as an Auburn Tiger. The junior college transfer made a big first impression with a huge first half on Saturday. Williams had seven catches for 138 yards before the teams went to the locker room, and finished the day with a first game school record 154 receiving yards, as well as a touchdown, on nine catches.

Williams has already proved he is the total package of speed (he had 44 yards after the catch on his 62-yarder in the second quarter), great hands, size, and power. He could be a beast this season.

Melvin Ray made two big plays for Auburn Saturday. Ray snagged a 49-yard touchdown on the opening drive, in which he broke a tackle and sprinted to the end zone, as well as a 28-yard one-handed grab from Nick Marshall in the third quarter.

Sammie Coates picked up a big first down on the game’s first drive with a 13-yard reception from Jeremy Johnson, but it would be his only catch of the day. From that point, Coates came close to touchdowns on multiple occasions, but instead came away with near misses from both Johnson and Marshall.

In the first half, the junior was pulled down from behind by an Arkansas defensive back he had beaten on a deep route that turned out to be a pass interference penalty. In the second half, Nick Marshall nearly found Coates in the end zone, but the throw was just a little low and went off of Coates’ hands.

Grade: A