D'haquille Williams key to more balanced Auburn offense

AUBURN -- No Tigers fan should need a history lesson on how big an impact one player can have on a team.

Auburn's seen it before.

From Bo, to Cam, and even Nick Marshall last season, the Tigers have had their share of premier talents that have revamped the Auburn offense over the years.

D'haquille Williams could be the next name to join that list, though with the weapons Auburn already boasts on offense, his impact may be more subdued than those of the past.

The top junior college prospect in the country last season, Williams could be the key to changing the nation's leading rushing attack into a balanced, if not perhaps pass-first, offense in 2014 after being a nearly 2-to-1 (4,596 to 2,422 yards) run-pass ratio last season.

"That was really probably the No. 1 priority in the spring, to be more balanced," Auburn coach Gus Malzahn said. "We led the country in rushing last year. When you do that, defenses have to take some chances. We've got to do a better job this year of making them pay when they do take chances. … We feel like we have some receivers that can stretch the field and make some plays."

The 6-foot-2, 216-pound Williams, referred to as "Duke" by coaches and teammates, showed glimmers of what he is bringing to the Plains on A-Day. He had five catches for 88 yards and a touchdown while lined up opposite Sammie Coates, Auburn's leading receiver last year, and could be in the same spot on a regular basis in the fall.

"I think he's got the ability to move around and play all the (receiver) positions," Malzahn said. "You know, at times, we moved him around, and he's picked things up quick. He's a guy that really wants the ball and can do something with it once he catches it."

During the A-Day game, Williams was consistently used to complement Coates, who had 42 receptions for 902 yards and seven touchdowns last season.

With another weapon for Marshall, or if need be Jeremy Johnson, to throw to, the Auburn passing game could look far different this season.

"You want also to get your best players on the field," offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee said. "We don't feel like Sammie and Duke are our only good receivers either but definitely those are guys that — Sammie's proven a little bit that last year that he could be a playmaker, Duke had a good spring and there's others.

"Different formation may call for different scenarios, (they'll be) on the field together at the same time, maybe not, different positions. We've got some ideas, some things we're going to try just in general, and then each week to week we'll probably try to put them in favorable situations."

The only knock on Williams, who was not available for interviews during spring practice, coming into the spring was his run blocking. He did block on some plays on A-Day, and will be asked to do so in games, but his hands are clearly best used for hauling in passes, not blocking cornerbacks.

"He's one of the receivers," Marshall said, "you put it into his sight, and he'll come down with the catch for you."