In their first game against Baylor, the Auburn Tigers were forced to mostly rely on their running backs to get the ball to the end zone, but in Saturday's matchup with Ball State, the Tigers' receivers were able to put on much more of a show.
The Tigers' wide receivers room has been one of the most talked-about position groups during the preseason, with returners Cam Coleman and Malcolm Simmons joined by a pair of highly-rated transfers, Eric Singleton Jr. and Horatio Fields.
Though Cam Coleman led the team in receptions with seven catches for 77 yards, Singleton took the second-place spot with four receptions for 64 yards and two touchdowns. Fields had six catches for 51 yards and a touchdown, while Simmons recorded four catches for 37 yards. Five other wide receivers or tight ends make catches as well.
Still, quarterback Jackson Arnold relied heavily on quick passes because Ball State's defense took the same approach as Baylor's and attempted to keep the Tigers from passing. Singleton told the media after Saturday's 42-3 win that he believes the teams they've played so far have been afraid of the Auburn receiving corps.
"Yeah, it's crazy how the defenses are playing us," Singleton said, per Auburn Undercover. "They're just telling us, basically, run the ball. We're not gonna let y'all throw the ball. They're really scared of our receiving corps. But I feel like, once we get into SEC play, all of that is gonna stop. They're gonna have to play us man-to-man."
Auburn will open SEC play in two weeks on the road against the Oklahoma Sooners in their first trip ever to Norman.
The Tigers will host South Alabama for the first time next week for Auburn's homecoming weekend. The game is set for 11:45 a.m. on the SEC Network.