Five Tigers who raised their stock during Auburn football fall camp

AUBURN — Every week, Auburn Live will look at five Tigers who raised their stock after each game. Given it’s the week of the season opener against UMass on Saturday, we’ll instead look at five Tigers who raised their stock during Auburn football fall camp heading into Game One.

The first list includes four offensive players (three of which are receivers), with just one returning player making the list joined by three FBS transfers and a junior college transfer. The point of Five Tigers who raised their stock is to recognize five players whose recent performances elevated their standing with the team, and could lead to increased repetitions in game plans moving forward.

Let’s dive in.

Honorable mentions (other players who were considered for the list): Damari Alston, Kayin Lee, Champ Anthony, Jayson Jones, Jay Fair

Jyaire Shorter

The North Texas wide receiver transfer wasn’t talked about a ton during fall camp, as others received more attention, but he didn’t go unnoticed. When the official depth chart was released on Monday (a depth chart Hugh Freeze said he didn’t make, by the way, but that’s another story), Jyaire Shorter was listed as a co-starter with sophomore Omari Kelly. Here’s what receivers coach Marcus Davis said fo Shorter during camp:

“His tape is a direct reflection of what he’s shown so far,” Davis said. “Big, physical guy. It’s hard for the defender to get their hands on him, and he’s got solid speed as well. He’s a bigger guy, super strong, and has good speed. That helps him to get open. That’s what’s been showing so far.”

Shorter led college football in yards per catch last season with over 27 yards per grab. He wasn’t recognized in the category because he finished with only 23 receptions. Of those, 11 went for touchdowns. If Shorter’s performance during camp was a direct reflection of that, then Auburn’s in good shape. Big, physical and fast, Shorter will be a weapon in this offense.

Izavion Miller

When Freeze specifically singles you out for essentially being too good to keep off the field, then it’s safe to say your stock has risen quite a bit since the start of fall camp. That’s the case for Izavion Miller, who is pushing hard to start at right tackle, which would move Gunner Britton to right guard.

Teammate and starting center Avery Jones said of Miller, “TooTall is a great player. Ever since I got here I could see his athleticism and his ability to play at this level. His get-off, and he is a smart kid, too. He could be a starter. He is a great player in my book.”

Listed at 6-foot-5 and 318 pounds, look for Miller to earn major snaps with the first-team offensive line against UMass, as Thornton tries to gauge whether or not to start Miller and move Britton down to guard, or keep things as they’ve been since the spring.

Shane Hooks

Another easy choice, the Jackson State transfers scored three touchdowns in two fall scrimmages and was consistently Auburn’s best playmaker during fall camp. Now, Shane Hooks needs to work on his consistency, which Freeze pointed out explicitly towards the end of fall camp, but Hooks is without question the Tigers’ most talented wideout, and the wideout with the most next-level potential.

Just ask veteran and likely future NFL cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett, who said, “it is a very talented group, especially Shane Hooks. I have been going against him every day. I feel like he is getting me better every day.”

Hooks’ performance during fall camp earned him being listed atop the depth chart at his position, ahead of Camden Brown and Nick Mardner. Can he improve his consistency and remain there? That’s the question.

Mosiah Nasili-Kite

The expectation would have been that true freshman standout Keldric Faulk would have found himself atop the depth chart at defensive end heading into the season opener, but instead, it’s Mosiah Nasili-Kite sitting atop the spot. The Maryland transfer arrives with over 100 career tackles to his name, and despite his smaller stature at 6-foot-2, he uses his 285 pounds well to create leverage.

Check out what teammate and veteran Marcus Harris said of the newcomer:

“He’s physical, he gets off the rock. He’s a great dude,” Harris said. “(Nasili-Kite) is a great team player to be around. He’s a friendly guy to be around. That’s one of the guys I can’t wait to see what he does this season. He’s way quicker, way quicker. When he came here, he surprised me. He’s faster in person.”

Omari Kelly

Well, we might as well include a third receiver on the list in Kelly, who is listed as a co-starter along with Shorter. The receiver position needed players to step up, and it sounds like Kelly, Shorter and Hooks were three that rose to the occasion during fall camp. The sophomore was relegated to the sideline most of last year, but due to injuries to Koy Moore, Malcolm Johnson Jr. and others during camp, Kelly found himself with increased repetitions. He took advantage.

“I love the way he practices, the juice he brings to the field,” Freeze said.

And listen to the praise from teammate Luke Deal.

“Omari is a playmaker,” Deal said. “When he first stepped on campus I remember vividly seeing him make plays. His speed, watching him run down on kick off for the first time, I was like ‘man, this guy has some wheels, I would like some of those, I would like to be able to run as fast as him, I can’t.’ He’s a playmaker. But, more than that, he is a really good morale-booster around the locker room. He is always got energy.”

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