Why you should be thinking about Auburn football in July

Auburn football is not that far away and there are always reasons to get excited about the upcoming season.

Austin Wiley is returning to the Auburn basketball team and the baseball team fell one win short of reaching the College World Series with a core of freshmen standouts returning next season. That’s fantastic and points to one thing: Football season is around the corner.

OK, it’s only July, but before you know it fall practice will be here and the Sept. 1, 3:30 p.m. ET matchup against Washington at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta will be here.

To start converting your thoughts to football, here are five things that should get the blood flowing.

5. Anthony Schwartz, freshman WR

Being the fastest high school sprinter in the state of Florida usually means a lot. After all, the state produces a ton of talent in all sports. In the case of Auburn incoming freshman Anthony Schwartz, it means even more.

He was named the Gatorade Track Athlete of the Year.

The American Heritage athlete won the 100 meters at the FHSAA state championships in 10.07 seconds and won the 200 meters in 20.41. He just won the 100 meters at the USATF Junior Championships in 10.23.

Expect Gus Malzahn to find a way to get the ball in his hands in 2018. Jet sweeps? Kickoff returns? Running post patterns? Schwartz’s speed opens all sorts of options for Malzahn and Chip Lindsey. Defenses have to account for him and that won’t be easy.