Auburn Football: Offensive Position Grades vs Louisiana Tech

Sep 27, 2014; Auburn, AL, USA; Auburn Tigers wide receiver Quan Bray (4) and wide receiver Sammie Coates (18) react to a touchdown during the second half against the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs at Jordan Hare Stadium. Auburn won 45-17. Mandatory Credit: Shanna Lockwood-USA TODAY Sports

Receivers

The player of the game Saturday was senior wide receiver Quan Bray. The 5-foot-10, 187-pound speedster played much bigger than he is with a three-catch, 91-yard receiving performance that included two touchdown receptions against Louisiana Tech. Bray also added a 76-yard punt return in the fourth quarter that broke the game wide open.

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D’haquille Williams was not targeted nearly as often against the Bulldogs as he had been in the previous game with Kansas State. However, the junior still snagged an impressive on-handed touchdown catch in the first half. “Duuuuuuuuuke” finished the day with two catches for 33 yards and the score.

Ricardo Louis ranked third among the group with 26 receiving yards on three catches. Also, true freshman Stantion Truitt made his first appearance of the season and caught a pass for 12 yards. That means Truitt cannot be redshirted this season, so expect to see him factored in more in the coming weeks in order to make this year of eligibility worth it.

Among the concerns has to be Sammie Coates – the explosive junior receiver that led the nation in yards per catch in 2013. Through four games (one of which he sat out), Coates has been hampered by a noticeable leg injury that has affected his speed and ability to get open.

There have been a handful of times this season that Coates has broken free from defenders, but could not catch up to deep balls from quarterbacks instead of catching them in stride and taking them to the house like he did last year. Coates did have two receptions for 19 yards Saturday, but are used to seeing so much more from No. 18.

Tight end CJ Uzomah, who hasn’t been targeted much so far this season, caught a fourth quarter touchdown from Johnson. The pair connected for the exclamation point of the contest and pushed the outcome to its final 45-17 score with the 15-yard pass and catch.

Grade: B+