An Auburn wide receiver will apparently be out for the team’s season opener against Akron.
Freshman Tar’Varish Dawson Jr. posted to his Instagram story Saturday morning that he will not be on the field for the Tigers’ 6 p.m. kickoff against the Zips at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
“I can’t believe I gotta miss my first college game,” Dawson posted.
Dawson did not say why he will miss the game, but he was one of four players who did not participate in last Saturday’s open practice a week out from the season opener.
The 5-foot-11, 195-pounder was the lone true freshman to appear on Auburn’s season-opening depth chart this week after earning the backup spot behind redshirt sophomore Ja’Varrius Johnson at the H-receiver/slot position. The former four-star prospect had an impressive fall, showing consistency throughout the preseason and a firm understanding of the Tigers’ offense and what it expected of the position.
“He has elite speed,” Auburn offensive coordinator Mike Bobo said. “Obviously he has track times, but he has game-changing speeds that can create explosive plays off his ability…. He’s got talent, and that’s our job as coaches to figure out what he can do and put himself in position to be successful.”
Tom Green is an Auburn beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Tomas_Verde.
