What we learned from A-Day

[aubiefifty 16,755]

What we learned from Auburn’s A-Day spring game

Today 5:00 PM

Todd Van Emst/AU Athletics

Seth Williams and Devin Barrett in competition during Saturday's Scrimmage. Auburn football practice on Saturday, April 6, 2019 in Auburn, Ala. Todd Van Emst/AU Athletics

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By Tom Green | tgreen@al.com

Auburn held its annual A-Day spring game on Saturday in front of 41,489 fans at Jordan-Hare Stadium, all of whom got an early glimpse at the 2019 iteration of Gus Malzahn’s team.

The Orange (first-team) won, 28-10, over the Blue (second-team) during the glorified scrimmage.

Here are a few of AL.com’s key takeaways from the Tigers’ A-Day game:

1. The passing game appears to be in good hands, regardless of who wins the starting job

While it’s still technically a four-man competition for the starting quarterback job, each of Auburn’s candidates for the starting job looked sharp during their opportunities on A-Day -- particularly the trio of Joey Gatewood, Bo Nix and Malik Willis.

Gatewood and Nix, who worked with the first-team offense, each had strong first-half performances. Gatewood was 1-of-2 for 28 yards on his opening drive and finished the half 7-of-10 passing for 123 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Nix, who went 4-of-6 for 63 yards and a touchdown on his first drive, went 11-of-14 for 155 yards and two scores in the first half.

Willis, who worked with the second-team offense in the first half, was a perfect 5-for-5 for 64 yards and a touchdown on his first possession and finished the half 7-of-8 for 63 yards. His one first-half touchdown went for 41 yards to Matthew Hill, who made a nice over-the-shoulder grab.

In the second half, the quarterbacks switched sides while there was a running clock. Willis went 2-of-2 for 22 yards in the second half. Nix threw an interception midway through the third quarter and finished 11-of-16 for 155 yards and two scores for the game.

2. Seth Williams is putting his money where his mouth is

Earlier this spring, Seth Williams said he wanted to help turn Auburn into “Wide Receiver U.” A tall order, to be sure, but Williams backed up his talk on A-Day -- as did two of his other fellow wideouts. Williams caught four passes on four targets for 103 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the first half, with each of his grabs impressive athletic receptions. The most eye-opening of the bunch was a 38-yard touchdown pass from Nix in which Williams snatched the ball out of double coverage -- Roger McCreary was in coverage and Jamien Sherwood was closing in over the top, with a chance at the interception -- for a 38-yard touchdown.

Williams wasn’t the only receiver to impress on A-Day. Matthew Hill, a redshirt freshman, had four receptions for 93 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the first half while splitting time between the Orange and Blue teams. He added a 35-yard reception in the fourth quarter. Eli Stove, fully recovered from the ACL injury he sustained last spring, had four first-half receptions for 63 yards and a touchdown.

3. Harold Joiner’s versatility was on display

Harold Joiner’s role on offense is still fluid and undefined -- he’s part running back, part slot receiver -- but the redshirt freshman athlete was all over the field Saturday during A-Day. He finished with six carries for 21 yards as well three receptions for 28 yards -- and he added a fumble recovery to help the offense get the ball back following Nix’s third-quarter interception.

When Joiner signed with Auburn, Gus Malzahn spoke of using him like former Tulsa star Charles Clay. This spring, Malzahn evoked the name of another former player, running back Kerryon Johnson. After A-Day, it’s easy to see why Auburn’s staff likes Joiner’s versatility and ability to fill some different roles within the offense.

4. D.J. Williams should find a role in the backfield as a freshman

Auburn returns each of its top-four running backs from last season in Boobee Whitlow, Kam Martin, Shaun Shivers and Malik Miller, but it was the newest running back of the group -- freshman early enrollee D.J. Williams -- who looked most impressive on A-Day. The 5-foot-10, 216-pounder had nine first-half carries for 56 yards while going up against Auburn’s first-team offense. He finished with 11 total carries for 55 yards.

5. Auburn’s offensive line is miles ahead of where it was a year ago

After Wednesday’s practice, Gus Malzahn gave his shortest answer of the spring. He was asked which position group was the most improved this spring, and he bluntly said “offensive line.”

That was evident during A-Day, and it should be no surprise. Auburn’s offensive line returns all five starters, with all five of them seniors. The group looked cohesive against the second-team defense and did not allow a sack in the first half. The only negative play by the first-team offense in the first half came on a 2-yard loss by Nix on a keeper.

6. Chandler Wooten injured

Auburn made it out of A-Day relatively healthy, with only one player injured during the spring game. Junior linebacker Chandler Wooten was injured in the first half and remained down on the field for several moments with an apparent right knee injury. He was tended to by trainers, who helped him off the field and took him back to the locker room.

Tom Green is an Auburn beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Tomas_Verde.

[3rdgeneration 6,469]

Hope Chandler Wooten is not injured badly.  

[homersapien 11,362]

Sounds very positive - especially regarding "skill" players. 

Let's hope that Gus has come apreciate establishing depth on the O- line.

[gr82be 14,423]

Britt made comments afterward that Wooten's injury may not be that serious and that he said he'd be back soon. No sense risking further injury even if he could have come back out. 

[weagl1 1,782]

Any final word on Wooten’s injury yet?

[WFE12 9,191]

46 minutes ago, weagl1 said:

Any final word on Wooten’s injury yet?

He said he's fine on social media. 

[toddc 13,194]

16 hours ago, WFE12 said:

He said he's fine on social media. 

KJ Britt also said he was fine.