Auburn football WR Landen King: “Coach Ike is a legend”

The Auburn football coaching staff has seen quite a bit of turnover since head coach Bryan Harsin was hired ahead of the 2021 season. Harsin headed into year two with new coordinators, both offensive and defensive, and several new position coaches who have, so far, been very successful in bonding with the team and contributing to recruiting.

One of the most game-changing hires made by Harsin was that of Ike Hilliard, who signed on to take over the Tigers’ wide receivers, a position group that did not see great success in 2021, and whose most productive members did not return for 2022.

Not only has Coach Hilliard seemingly won over the locker room, but he’s also been instrumental in recruiting, putting the Tigers squarely back in the race for and ultimately winning the commitment of 4-star WR Karmello English.

According to Landen King, a sophomore tight end turned wide receiver, Hilliard has made himself part of the WR group, per Auburn Live:

"“Harsin getting him, that was one of his best decisions,” King said. “We can all relate to him. When a coach tells you he loves you every single day, it does something to the whole room. We want to do everything for Coach Ike. Coach Ike is a legend. He’s one of us. Having that in our room specifically, that was the best thing we could have.”"

Though previously King was spending time at both the tight end and wide receiver positions, he has fully transitioned to wide receiver, and is ready to prove himself as a pass-catcher this fall.

Auburn Live’s Justin Hokanson reports in the same article that at this time, Shedrick Jackson is playing at the X position ahead of Ze’Vian Capers, Tar’Varish Dawson and Ja’Varrius Johnson are battling for the H position, and the slot and Z position are being filled by Malcolm Johnson Jr. and Landen King.

Auburn football signed two transfer wide receivers during the offseason in Koy Moore from LSU and Dazalin Worsham from Miami, and incoming freshmen Camden Brown, Omari Kelly, and Jay Fair are also looking to break into the rotation.