Sammie Coates practicing, expected to play at Kansas State

AUBURN -- The Tigers will have their top target back on Thursday night.

Sammie Coates, who missed Auburn's game with San Jose State with a left leg injury, has returned to practice and is expected to be "ready to go" for this week's marquee matchup, according to coach Gus Malzahn.

"Sammie is one of our big weapons; I think everyone saw that last year," Malzahn said. "He provides a different element. We expect him to be back and ready to go and that'll be a good thing for us."

The junior wide receiver was held out of the game against SJSU, but appeared on the sideline. He had 42 catches for 902 yards and seven touchdowns last season.

"Sammie is the returning leading receiver we have and the leader in that room," said fellow receiver Melvin Ray. "It's good to have him back. It's never good to have him go down. It's good to have him back. He's a deep threat, a guy that defenses have to worry about, and he just makes it better for the offense overall."

Coates had 17 plays over 20 yards and 14 over 30 yards last season, the most of any returning player in the country.

He's also improved on his play without the ball.

"He's really improved his all-around receiving skills; his intermediate routes," Malzahn said. "He's an extremely good blocker. He's a big strong guy too who can block a lot of different guys and he knows the offense."