Auburn Football: 5 storylines to follow during 2018 spring ball

1. Jarrett Stidham to Nate Craig-Myers connection

Jarrett Stidham had a good year in 2017 but needs to have a great year in order for the Tigers to survive their grueling schedule. The schedule opens with a neutral site game against the Washington Huskies and is bookended by the Iron Bowl against the Crimson Tide. Stidham needs to find a go-to target in 2018 that he can rely on in game changing situations.

Nate Craig-Myers looks to be that guy in 2018. Craig-Myers started off slow but this is the year the former four-star wide receiver from Tampa Catholic breaks out. Craig-Myers has the size at 6-foot-2 and 215 pounds and his former high school coach, Mike Gregory, raved about his work ethic. Craig-Myers’ humility, as described by Gregory, and tenacity have turned him into a selfless blocker in the run game and that’s vital at Auburn.

Stidham and the coaching staff got very comfortable with Craig-Myers late in the season. In the final three games, all against premier competition in Georgia, Alabama and UCF, he caught six of his 16 receptions on the season and two of his three touchdowns.

While Ryan Davis caught the bulk of the passes he only averaged 9.7 yards per catch, Darius Slayton was more dynamic with 20.2 yards per reception and Craig-Myers’ 17.8 proves he has breakaway speed in the deep game.

Next: NFL Mock Draft 2018: First round post-Combine

If Stidham and the Tigers’ offense are going to be explosive enough to beat the Huskies, Craig-Myers will have to be a major part of the game plan.