USF transfer receivers look to prove doubters wrong in season opener
Byrum Brown isn't the only part of South Florida's top 5 offense that Alex Golesh brought to Auburn. Keshaun Singleton (6-3, 220lbs) caught 50 passes last season for 877 yards and 8 TDs. He is a projected starter alongside fellow USF transfers Chas Nimrod (6-2, 200lbs) and Jeremiah Koger (6-2, 213lbs).
Backing those guys up will be yet another USF transfer Christian Neptune (5-11, 190lbs), and two Auburn freshman in DeShawn Spencer (5-11, 175lbs) and Brian Williams Jr. (6-4, 210lbs). You might remember hearing Spencer's name called on A-Day when he caught 9 passes and was named A-Day MVP. Brian Williams Jr. was also in the news on signing day when he flipped from the crimson tide.
These 6 guys will be getting the bulk of Byrum Brown's passes but wide receivers coach Kodi Burns has some other young players who are talented and ready to contribute. You're not going to believe this, but their is actually one more USF wide receiver transfer... Kory Pettigrew (6-1, 195lbs) caught 3 passes last season in limited playing time. He was redshirted, and will give Auburn some depth at the position while he continues to develop.
Sam Turner (6-1, 210lbs), Bryce Cain (5-10, 165lbs), and late addition Tray Taylor (5-6, 150lbs) will see the field as well, but Golesh described Turner as a wild card because of his flexibility and maturity. Kodi Burns implied Cain is highly talented but can be inconsistent at times. Tray Taylor made the rounds on social media when he signed with Auburn about 3 weeks before the season kicks off. He has a particularly untraditional frame for an SEC wide receiver. He joins Auburn from Troy where he caught 30 passes last season for 499 yards and had an additional 52 yards on the ground.
We will find out a lot more about this new look offense on Saturday as Baylor and Auburn kickoff the season in Atlanta for the Aflac Kickoff game.
- Thomas Porter