D'haquille Williams, Cassanova McKinzy 'running late' to bowl

TAMPA – Auburn arrived in Tampa for the start of bowl week without two of its top players.

Top wide receiver D'haquille Williams and starting middle linebacker Cassanova McKinzy were not with the team for the Outback Steakhouse welcome dinner Friday night but are expected to arrive at some point.

"(Williams is) on his way," Auburn coach Gus Malzahn said. "Him and Cassanova McKinzy are both running late."

Auburn's players were permitted to travel on their own to Tampa, whereas Wisconsin flew as a team.

Williams, who leads Auburn with 45 receptions for 730 yards and five touchdowns, missed all of last week's bowl practices because he was "sick," according to Malzahn.

The 6-foot-2 216 pound junior posted a picture on Instagram, which has since been deleted, showing he had a bruise under his left eye, which appeared to be half red with blood.

Asked what Williams' illness was, Malzahn declined to specify.

"I'm not going to get into all that," Malzahn said.

Asked if the LaPlace, Louisiana native was in some kind of altercation resulting in the apparent injuries to his face, Malzahn again declined to comment.

Even if Williams arrives, Malzahn would not say if his top wide out would play against No. 18 Wisconsin.

Williams has not stated whether he'll return for his senior season or declare for the NFL Draft, where he is projected as a second-round pick by ESPN's MelKiper Jr.

Auburn (8-4) played Georgia and Samford without Williams, who suffered a sprained right MCL against Texas A&M. Williams returned for the Iron Bowl, making seven catches for 121 yards against Alabama.

If the Tigers have to play without Williams again, they're confident in their ability to overcome the personnel loss.

"This foundation has been built on more than any one great player," defensive tackle Gabe Wright said. "That's what coach Malzahn always preaches: Auburn was great before and it'll be great even after you got here."

Even with Williams' status in limbo, Wisconsin doesn't plan on changing its game plan.

"It won't change our preparation," Wisconsin athletic director and interim coach Barry Alvarez said. "I've always believed that you worry about yourself and you worry about what you do and you try to get your team to execute well and play well. Then see where it goes from there."

Williams provided Auburn a big, reliable target over the middle at the split-5 role in Malzahn's Hurry-Up, No-Huddle offense. Melvin Ray (seven receptions for 177 yards) filled in for Williams when he was injured, making catches of at least 18 yards against Texas A&M, Georgia and Samford.

"We'll be fine," tight end C.J. Uzomah said. "We have a lot of other playmakers that can step up. We have Melvin Ray, who's produced fantastically; he's graded out phenomenally in every game that he's played. Him, myself, we have other people that can fill in that position and do other things.

"We've been doing the exact same thing if he were there. Nothing in the game plan has changed. We're still on all four cylinders and we're ready to roll."