After an explosive performance on the road at Ole Miss, Seth Williams was recognized by the SEC as Co-Offensive Player of the Week. It feels warranted after his bounce-back performance, which saw him catch eight passes for 150 yards and the go-ahead touchdown.
“The sign of a really, really good player is when they have a tough week the week before, and they come back and they rebound,” said Gus Malzahn.
In Williams’ case, he had three tough weeks.
The disaster in Athens speaks for itself. Two weeks ago, during a home showdown with Arkansas, Williams looked out of it. Some wondered if he was injured and playing through pain. Others theorized he was frustrated with something or another to do with the offense.
The following weekend at South Carolina was even worse. Gamecock cornerback Jaycee Horn locked Williams down, picking off two passes that were intended for him and making life miserable for the junior receiver. Everyone watching ESPN saw Williams and Bo Nix jawing at each other, and that was all it took to send rumors flying about their relationship.
Other players on the team downplayed the alleged conflict between the two, but it took Saturday’s performance at Ole Miss to fully dismiss the rumors. Williams put together his most prolific performance of the season, reeling in eight passes for 150 yards. Half of his catches were made on critical third downs to extend Auburn drives. It was the fifth 100-yard game of Williams’ career.
The only thing missing was a touchdown. On Auburn’s final drive, eight yards short of midfield, Williams made the play that would seal his bid as the SEC’s Co-Offensive Player of the Week. Bo Nix dropped back and connected with Williams on a back-shoulder throw and, with Eli Stove maintaining a block, he ran the remaining 40-plus yards for the game-winning score.
For the first time since the Kentucky game, Williams looked like himself. Hopefully, his bounce-back performance will become the norm as the second half of the schedule approaches. With Auburn sitting as a home underdog in this weekend’s matchup with LSU, the orange-and-blue Tigers will need it.
