Auburn Football: 5 Takeaways from 2019 spring football

2. Auburn’s deep group of WR’s

Auburn’s lack of development at the wide receiver position has been noted before. Despite consistently recruiting blue-chip players at the position, the NFL hasn’t drafted a receiver from Auburn in the first round of the draft since the 49ers took Terry Beasley in 1972.

That could soon change, however, as Auburn’s current crop of receivers are as talented and deep as they’ve had in a number of years. Even after losing Darius Slayton to the NFL, the Tigers have one of the most talented groups of receivers in the entire country.

Leading the pack are a pair of rising sophomores who were among the most explosive freshmen in the entire country in 2018. Seth Williams and Anthony Schwartz are a pair of physically gifted receivers who are the perfect compliment to each other. Williams is the big target at 6-foot-3 and 224 pounds with a big catch-radius and the ability to make the contested reception. Schwartz is a track star, and among the fastest players in college football. Get him the ball in space and watch him fly.

There’s plenty of depth alongside them, too. Junior Eli Stove caught 30 passes as a sophomore in 2017, but tore his ACL in spring practice last year and missed most of the season as a result.

Senior Sal Cannella is the big slot receiver who is a mismatch for most nickel corners at 6-foot-5 and 228 pounds. Auburn struggled to cap off redzone drives with touchdowns last year, and improving in that area could mean increased targets for Cannella inside-the-20.

Sophomore Shedrick Jackson and redshirt freshman Matthew Hill will also be tough to keep off of the field as both have flashed their potential in practices.

Missing out on George Pickens, the nation’s top ranked WR in the 2019 class, wasn’t nearly as big of a blow as some wanted to pretend on signing day. Auburn is still stacked at the position, providing plenty of weapons to choose from for whichever quarterback emerges as the starter in the fall.