Auburn receiver D'haquille Williams remains suspended
Auburn receiver D'haquille Williams remains suspended for an undisclosed disciplinary issue.
Tigers coach Gus Malzahn said Monday that Williams was out for the third consecutive day of practice. He also missed Auburn's Fan Day on Sunday.
Malzahn declined to answer reporters' questions on Williams' status, saying twice, "I'll tell you when he gets back."
Auburn quarterback Jeremy Johnson also had little to say about the suspension but said that it "hasn't been a distraction and we won't let it be a distraction."
"That's not my responsibility," Johnson said. "I'm just leaving that to him and coach but I feel really good about all the other receivers."
Williams, a preseason All-Southeastern Conference pick, was also suspended for the Outback Bowl against Wisconsin.
He caught 45 passes for 730 yards last season despite missing three games.
The junior college transfer is rated as a likely first-round NFL draft pick after returning for his senior season.
Williams thrived in the one game Johnson started last season. He had nine catches for 154 yards in his Auburn debut, when Johnson played the first half while Nick Marshall was suspended.
Fellow receiver Ricardo Louis said the team is "not going to let distractions hold us back." Louis had 21 catches for 261 yards last season, second behind Williams among returning players.
"We've just been going," he said. "We don't skip a beat. Whoever's not in, we're going to have somebody else step up."