While the overall play of the wide receivers was poor, two Auburn wideouts achieved personal milestones in last Saturday’s 54-46, four-overtime loss to Arkansas.
Sophomore Gray King recorded the first catch of his Auburn career, while fellow sophomore Jason Smith found the end zone for the first time as a Tiger.
King redshirted in 2013 and played in all 13 games in 2014, mostly on special teams.
After the Tigers struggled with drops in the first half, King finally received an opportunity to show his skills at receiver.
His first catch came on Sean White pass that was deflected at the line of scrimmage, but his second was more conventional. King hauled in a 9-yard pass on an out route to give Auburn a first-and-goal, which the Tigers took advantage of three plays later.
King, who is a walk-on, said the second pass could not reach him soon enough.
“[The first catch], reactions just took over,” King said. “I saw the ball in the air and I went after it. But that other one, the ball traveled all the way across the field, and it seemed like it was in the air forever.”
Smith, who is in his first season at Auburn after transferring from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, scored his first touchdown at Auburn on the Tigers’ first drive of the second half.
With Auburn trailing 14-7, Smith took a handoff from running back Kerryon Johnson and followed wide receiver Melvin Ray’s block to tie the game on a 9-yard run.
“(Coach Gus Malzahn) had a plan for me and then we went with it,” Smith said. “As a team, it starts from the offensive line to the quarterback to the receivers blocking. I just did what I had to do to just get in the end zone.”
While both players enjoyed their success against the Razorbacks, King said they are hungry for more opportunities to contribute.
“I’m definitely a little more comfortable out there, and I hope the coaches see that and will give me just more opportunities,” King said. “Hopefully I can take advantage of them.”
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