Auburn depth chart: Analyzing key pieces, what it means for matchup vs. Washington
By Rob Maxwell
![Jamel Dean will start Saturday for Auburn vs. Washington. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) Jamel Dean will start Saturday for Auburn vs. Washington. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/6f086efe8cdecb43753d9b2e4860b457f1b2981cd84a28b0cbfb82abdaceb85c.jpg)
Oh, the options
If you checked out the depth chart, you probably noticed 13 positions on offense. If you know football, your math will show that 13 is two too many players on the field at one time. That would be quite the advantage.
One of the spots on the Auburn depth chart that is overflowing is wide receiver. The depth chart shows four positions. The starters are: Darius Slayton, Ryan Davis, Nate Craig-Myers and Sal Cannella. The backups are Shedrick Jackson, Anthony Schwartz, Marquis McClain, Seth Williams and Matthew Hill.
Big things are expected out of Slayton, Davis and Craig-Myers this season. Cannella had a strong fall and Malzahn pointed out his progress multiple times. He’s filling the slot, where Eli Stove and Will Hastings played last season. Both are sidelined while recovering from knee injuries.
#Auburn WR Ryan Davis talks about Sal Cannella regaining his confidence as he listed as a starter going into Saturday's opener against #Washington. pic.twitter.com/uYVybNDMW3
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) August 28, 2018
Then you have the freshmen: Jackson, Schwartz, Williams and Hill. These guys are going to be a lot of fun to watch. Each of them could play large roles with this offense. Auburn tends to go with the hot hand and if one of them has it, he’ll play. There’s speed, size and athleticism and you never can have too much of those qualities on offense.
Plus, Washington won’t know what to expect with these guys. As we’ve said all fall, expect Auburn to find a way to get the ball to Schwartz in the open field where he can show off his world-class speed.
Bottom line: You should feel good about the wide receiver position.