Auburn Hopes Small WR Makes Big Impact

The Auburn Tigers have added a new wide receiver to their roster who’s turning heads not for his play, but for his size. As shown in video shared by AuburnTigers.com senior writer Jeff Shearer, tray Taylor, who previously played for the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers and Troy Trojans, is now suiting up as a Tiger. Taylor is listed at 5-foot-8 and 160 pounds by Sports Reference, but those figures are already being disputed. Auburn lists him at 5-foot-6 and 150 pounds. It seems more accurate given the footage of him in fall camp. Fans sounded off in the comments on social media, and many had jokes. “Thought this was a coaches son practicing for fun,” wrote @WilliiamHBonney. “Mighty mouse!” added @tracey_lynnee. Despite his size, though, Taylor has a chance to make an impact for the Tigers. Last year at Troy, Taylor caught 30 passes for just under 500 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran the ball 10 times for 52 yards and another score, and he has experience returning kicks and punts, largely for Coastal Carolina. Despite his size, he got an opportunity at those schools after he was a second team JUCO All-American in 2023 after catching 39 passes for 850 yards and nine touchdowns for Tyler Junior College, reports Peter Rauterkus of AL.com. He comes in with Auburn down a wide receiver — Duke Smith was dismissed from the program in June after a reported violation of team rules — and looking to rebuild the program’s identity under new coach Alex Golesh. “If nothing else, Taylor gives the Tigers better numbers in practice, but was a contributor for Troy last year,” Rauterkus wrote. As prized player Cam Coleman transferred to the Texas Longhorns in the offseason, and Auburn will need a contributor or two to step up. As is usually the case at a big-time college program like Auburn, there are plenty of other receivers fighting for playing time, but if Taylor has shown anything in his playing career, it’s that he’s able to produce for his team. Now, he’ll get a chance to do that at the highest level of college football after starting in junior college, perhaps writing the last chapter of a storybook college career in the process.