D'haquille Williams undecided on going pro

AUBURN – Will he stay or will he go? D'haquille Williams doesn't know what his plans are for next season.

Auburn's top wide receiver is unsure whether he'll pass up on his senior season, which will likely involve a far more pass-oriented attack with Jeremy Johnson at quarterback, or declare for the 2015 NFL Draft.

"We still got (the rest of the) season ahead of us," Williams said. "We still got a bowl game; (the draft) really hasn't been on my mind yet."

Williams leads Auburn with 45 receptions for 730 yards and five touchdowns despite missing two games due to a sprained right MCL. His decision could come after Auburn's bowl game later this month.

"When that time comes," Williams said, "I'll make the decision."

There were five wide receivers selected in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft and most project a similar result in the upcoming draft, which is expected to be led by Alabama's Amari Cooper, should he declare early as expected. Williams is not expected to be a first-round pick this year after coming off a knee injury.

Something that could play a factor into Williams' decision making is if Auburn covers his loss of value insurance, which would protect him against dropping in the draft due to injury or illness.

Auburn coach Gus Malzahn said the program covered loss of value insurance "in the past for certain players" and could do so again for Williams or fellow wide receiver Sammie Coates, who also has to decide on his plans for next season.

"We'll always do what's best for our players," Malzahn said.

Malzahn would not say if there are financial limitations on Auburn if he had to cover policies for multiple players.

"It just depends," he said.

Georgia paid for a $10 million insurance policy for running back Todd Gurley, which covered total disability and loss of value, according to ESPN.com, which cost the school between $50,000-60,000.

Gurley tore his ACL in Georgia's win against Auburn, his first game back following a four-game suspension for receiving money for autographs. If he enters this year's draft as expected, Gurley could begin to collect on the $5 million loss of value policy if he slipped out of the first round, according to ESPN.

There are several other instances of schools covering loss of value insurance for prominent players, including Jameis Winston at Florida State and tackle Cedric Ogbuehi at Texas A&M. Former USC wide receiver Marquis Lee, who fell out of the first round to No. 39 in last year's draft, had a potential claim on his loss of value insurance policy after suffering a sprained MCL, much like Williams suffered this season.

Williams couldn't say if such insurance protection would keep him on the Plains for one more season.

"I'm not really focused on that right now," he said. "I'm just focused on getting better and learning from our mistakes (in the Iron Bowl). All I can do is just take it one day at a time."