The Auburn Tigers' 2014 signing class came with its own excitement, but D’haquille Williams’ performance in the team’s A-Day game may have taken excitement to the next level.

Williams, a five-star JUCO transfer, caught five passes for 88 yards and a touchdown in the Blue’s 58-3 win over the White. The teams were broken down by first team and second.

Offensively, Williams is a threat that quarterback Nick Marshall can only use as a gain, with the Tigers already returning receivers Sammie Coates and Quan Bray.

Williams isn’t the only signee that may make an impact in the fall, though.

With the departure of Heisman finalist Tre Mason in the backfield, Auburn’s battle for running back is wide open. While a lot of fans are looking for Corey Grant and Cameron Artis-Payne to fill the roll, five-star tailback Roc Thomas may have some thinking twice.

Thomas will come into fall camp after playing on a level of his own at Oxford High and winning Mr. Football in January. Auburn also signed three-star Kamryn Pettway from Prattville.

At receiver, Williams appears to be a star just waiting for Auburn’s season opener against Arkansas on Aug. 30, but four-star Stephen Truitt and three-star Myron Burton Jr. may also see the field this fall, more than likely on special teams.

Defensively, all eyes are on five-star linebacker Tre Williams. The Class 5A lineman of the year looks to be a player that can come in and immediately make an impact for the Tigers, which were hurting at the position last year.

One of Auburn’s biggest faults last season came in the secondary, and the Tigers signed several four-star recruits to try to fix the problems.

JUCO transfer Derrick Moncrief, Opelika star Stephen Roberts and signees from Georgia Nick Ruffin and Kalvarez Bessent will enter fall practice trying to make a push at playing time.

Although the defensive line returns stacked, minus first-round draft pick Dee Ford, Auburn signed five four-star linemen in Feburary.

JUCO singees DeVonte Lambert, Devaroe Lawrence and Andrew Williams join Vigor’s Justin Thornton and Carollton’s Dontavius Russell to create quite a competition for playing time.

One of Auburn’s biggest recruiting tactics has been the promise of players getting on the field in their first or second years. With another Top 10 signing class in the bag and Auburn looking to make another run at a national championship, it’ll be interesting to see how many newcomers play big roles this fall.

Brandon Miller

Coming up June 9: Football Preview: Quarterbacks and Wide Receivers