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Auburn football: Week 1’s leading receiver named starter vs. San Jose State

By Andrew Hughes

Week 1 leading receiver for Auburn football, Ja'Varrius Johnson, was named the starter in the slot for the Tigers' Week 2 matchup against San Jose State (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images)
Week 1 leading receiver for Auburn football, Ja'Varrius Johnson, was named the starter in the slot for the Tigers' Week 2 matchup against San Jose State (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images) /
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The leading receiver for Auburn football Week 1 against Mercer, sophomore Ja’Varrius Johnson, has usurped redshirt freshman Tar’Varish Dawson as the starting slot receiver against San Jose State this coming Saturday.

Johnson caught a 39-yard T.J. Finley first-quarter pass before hauling in Robby Ashford’s impressive third-quarter bomb that went for 56 yards that put the Tigers in the red zone. He finished with 117 receiving yards on four catches total and added nine rushing yards on two carries.

The Week 2 H receiver was lauded by DB Zion Puckett for his speed, his style of play, the way he gets in and out of his routes. He was also praised by head coach Bryan Harsin for his ability to find the end zone just as he did in a key SEC West matchup last year:

"“He does make plays. You saw that. I know he wanted to get in the end zone on a couple of those. He’s just that close to punch it in there. And that’s the goal, right, to try to take that thing and put it in the end zone like he did against Arkansas last year and complete the catch and run and score touchdowns. But he can do those things for us.”"

Auburn football replaces Keiondre Jones at right guard with Kam Stutts

The Tigers’ offensive line was long seen as a weakness, but the way they opened up holes on Saturday night to the tune of 181 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns could have some reconsidering that stance.

Of course, the SoCon caveat is present. Auburn football went to battle with a team a weight class down, but those are young men from Mercer playing Division I college football in the state of Georgia. Those results hold some weight.

In Bryan Harsin’s system, those that earn playing time get it. To see senior Kam Stutts step up and earn the job is not an indictment on Keiondre Jones as much as it is a statement that the OL could be a position with depth in 2022.

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