Wide receivers making strides this spring

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Trio of unproven Auburn wide receivers making strides this spring

By Tom Green | tgreen@al.com

5-7 minutes

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Auburn wide receiver Tar’Varish Dawson Jr. extends for a catch during spring practice on Friday, March 18, 2022 in Auburn, Ala. Todd Van Emst/AU AthleticsTodd Van Emst/AU Athletics

Auburn’s offense has been limited to repping more two- and three-receiver sets this spring out of necessity.

The Tigers’ wide receiver room is thin in both numbers and returning experience this spring after losing two of its top-three targets from last season, while two other receivers transferred out of the program. Auburn returns a pair of known quantities in fifth-year senior Shedrick Jackson and junior Ja’Varrius Johnson, but beyond that, the Tigers are actively looking for younger players to step up in the passing game heading into the fall.

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As the end of spring practice draws near, a trio of young, less experienced receivers has caught Bryan Harsin’s attention through the first three weeks of action: Malcolm Johnson Jr., redshirt freshman Tar’Varish Dawson Jr. and freshman early enrollee Jay Fair.

“All those guys, in their own ways, have done some good things,” Harsin said Saturday after the team’s 11th practice and second scrimmage.

Johnson is the only member of that trio with playing experience at this level. After reclassifying into the 2020 class, he’s now heading into his third season on the Plains. He didn’t record a catch in his first season after being a late addition to the roster during fall camp, and last season he saw the field in 11 games while making six catches for 82 yards and a touchdown.

That first career touchdown came on a 49-yard bomb from quarterback T.J. Finley during Auburn’s early-season blowout of Alabama State.

In the time since, Johnson has continued to make progress at the position — first under then-receivers coach-turned current offensive coordinator Eric Kiesau, and this spring under new position coach Ike Hilliard. Johnson has been a fixture on the first-team offense during the portions of spring practices that have been open to the media, typically lining up at flanker/Z.

The 6-foot-1, 195-pound speedster particularly impressed Harsin last week, when he was out-leveraged by a defensive back on a route but managed to make a move to create separation and get open downfield and make a play on the ball.

“He really shouldn’t have, but he got himself open,” Harsin said. “So, that was something I told him: ‘That’s it. You were already in a bad spot, and you found a way to win.’ And he did it because he’s able to do that — he’s athletic, he’s able to make those moves. Just encouraging that, like, that’s how you can really help to take the next step. And he knows that, too. I like where Malcolm’s at.”

Another receiver who has been seen working with the first-team offense at times has been Dawson, the former four-star prospect who was the only true freshman to crack Auburn’s two-deep at the start of last season. Despite that designation last fall, Dawson never saw the field, as he experienced a setback before the season opener against Akron and never got back in a position to contribute in 2021. According to Kiesau, who spent the 2021 season in the wide receiver room, Dawson “was just swimming, trying to figure it out on the fly” last season as he adjusted to the college game.

The 5-foot-10, 161-pounder is making strides this spring and looks more at ease within the offense. He worked with the first-team offense in the slot when Ja’Varrius Johnson missed some time earlier this spring due to a hamstring injury, and he should vie for time at the position this season after looking solid in practices through the first three weeks.

“Out of all the receivers, he’s probably made the biggest jump in improvement from when he first got here to now,” Kiesau said. “You know, he’s extremely talented; he’s just very, very raw. I think when he continues to learn the position and learn all the details of route-running and releases and things he’ll need to do, I think he’ll be really, really special. Is he there yet? No. Is he working toward it? Absolutely, and he’s definitely getting better…. I’m excited to grow him and see where he goes moving forward -- because he could be a lot of fun to watch.”

Then there’s Fair, the lone newcomer in the room this spring and one of three receivers Auburn signed in the 2022 class. The speedster out of Texas is doing his best to take advantage of his first spring after enrolling early, and while it’s a lot to ask of any freshman — especially as they adapt to college life while trying to learn the intricacies of the offensive playbook — his skillset has been apparent in practices, even if it may take time to get him ready to contribute this fall.

“Jay’s at that point, too, where it’s just a lot,” Harsin said. “It’s a lot of stuff going on, and we’re putting him out there. He’s getting reps; it’s not going to perfect, but he’s getting the opportunity to go out there and play.”

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