Auburn football HC Hugh Freeze: ‘You’ll keep seeing’ this wide receiver

Against the Mississippi State Bulldogs last weekend, the Auburn football team finally seemed to figure out how to operate the offense. Instead of rotating quarterbacks Payton Thorne and Robby Ashford throughout the game, the staff let Thorne stay in for nearly the entire game.

The named QB1 completed 20 of 26 passes for 230 yards and three passing touchdowns, his best game of the season. In the last four games against SEC opponents, Thorne threw for 44, 82, 102, and 100 yards, respectively.

While playing with a newfound consistency and tempo seemed to suit Thorne, it also worked out well for the Auburn football wide receivers, many of whom logged a catch in Saturday’s contest. The WR room has been somewhat of a work in progress this season, but some of the pass catchers have finally started to separate themselves from the pack.

Head coach Hugh Freeze has been particularly impressed with one receiver, and says fans can expect to see more of transfer WR Caleb Burton this season, per Auburn Rivals:

"“He kept working and working and working, and you keep putting on tape good things, and good things will come your way,” Freeze said. “And that’s what’s happened to him. You’ll keep seeing him. Unless he just shuts it down in practice this week, you’ll keep seeing him.”"

Though the redshirt freshman did not initially have what it takes to earn playing time, his effort has put him on the field during games more and more. So far this season, Burton has four receptions for 39 yards. He had one catch in both games against Ole Miss and Mississippi State and two catches in the LSU game.

When asked about Burton, quarterback Payton Thorne said that he is a skilled receiver and he looks forward to continuing to grow with him. It just goes to show that whichever receivers can make plays will be the ones that see the field on gamedays.