Auburn wide receiver D'haquille Williams introduced himself to the SEC in a big way Saturday, piling up 154 receiving yards and a touchdown on nine receptions as the Tigers pulled away from visiting Arkansas 45-21.
The one-game significance? For Auburn star receiver Sammie Coates, it could mean a lot more one-on-one coverage in the coming weeks as defenses re-assess whether they can afford to double-team him. Coates accounted for nearly 40 percent of Auburn's passing yards last season; on Saturday, Coates caught one pass for 13 yards.
You might remember Williams making the social media rounds earlier this month with this ridiculous catch during preseason practice. If Saturday's performance was any indication, it was no fluke. Williams (6-foot-2, 215 pounds) transferred to Auburn from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, and is eligible for the 2015 NFL Draft, being three years removed from high school. The junior's Auburn debut was exactly what coach Gus Malzahn's offense needed to go with its vaunted rushing attack: a downfield receiving threat other than Coates.
Other notables from Auburn-Arkansas:
» The Tigers' replacement for Tre Mason, Cameron Artis-Payne, rushed 26 times for 178 yards.
» Quarterback Nick Marshall, who didn't start for disciplinary reasons, entered to relieve starter Jeremy Johnson and completed 4 of 6 passes.
*Follow Chase Goodbread on Twitter **@ChaseGoodbread.*
