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Posted on 9/26/21 at 11:32 pm to jangalang
Auburn fires first-year WR coach Cornelius Williams
By AuburnUndercover.com Staff7 hrs
247
Highlights: Georgia State at No. 23 Auburn
AUBURN, Alabama--Auburn has fired first-year wide receivers coach Cornelius Williams four games into the 2021 football season, sources close to the situation confirmed to Auburn Undercover and Inside the Auburn Tigers on Sunday afternoon.
Williams, who was previously the receivers coach at Troy, was hired by Bryan Harsin in January with a contract worth $600,000 over two years. According to a copy of the contract provided to Auburn Undercover via a records request in March, Williams is owed a buyout of the remainder of his deal, though the total amount will be mitigated if Williams takes another college coaching job.
Offensive analyst Eric Kiesau, who was hired by Harsin in the offseason after serving as his offensive coordinator at Boise State from 2019-20, will take over as receivers' coach, according to informed sources.
Auburn's wide receivers have been inconsistent at best over the past two weeks as they try to transition to a new offensive system and more expected of them at the position. The Tigers are having to replace all three starters from a season ago and did not have a single returning receiver with double digit career receptions heading into the season. With drops and miscommunications a big issue in Auburn's passing game, the Tigers scored only one offensive touchdown in a 34-24 win over Georgia State over the weekend.
As a coach on multiple teams that put up strong offensive numbers, Williams made the move to Auburn from his alma mater, Troy University, where he coached wide receivers the past six seasons. Last year his group finished with receiving games of 100 or more yards 11 times, breaking the previous school record of seven.
His 2020 receivers helped the Trojans tie the school record for 500-yard offensive performances with six while scoring at least 35 points in eight games, the fourth highest total in Sun Belt Conference history. He was part of four conference championship teams at Troy.
Williams also coached wide receivers on teams at Murray State, Jacksonville State and UAB that put up impressive offensive numbers with the receivers a big part of the equation.
When making the hire, Harsin said, "Cornelius is a great fit for the staff we are assembling. He is a strong teacher of the game on the field and has been developing recruiting ties in Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi during his time at Troy. As a Birmingham native, and his state of Alabama roots, he understands what Auburn football is all about and the type of player and high character individuals we want bring in and develop. I’m excited to see his energy and passion for the game guide our wide receiver."
As a coach at Troy his receivers earned All-Sun Belt honors 14 times. He played on four state championship teams at Hoover High School where he set single-season records for receptions (77) and receiving yardage (1,300). He earned All-State honors as a senior. In his first season as a coach at South Alabama that team finished 10-0. Williams was a four-year letterman at Troy from 2006-09 and helped lead the Trojans to three bowls and a 26-3 Sun Belt record. He finished his collegiate career with 63 receptions for 764 yards and seven touchdowns.
At Jacksonville State he helped the Gamecocks reach the FCS quarter-finals with one of his players, Josh Badge, earning Freshman All-America honors. In his one season at Murray State the team led the Ohio Valley Conference in scoring and receiving yards. At UAB a receiver he coached, J.J. Nelson, was a fifth round draft pick by Arizona. In 2018 Damion Willis produced 213 receiving yards vs. Louisiana, the second highest total in Troy history. He coached Deondre Douglas, who earned All-Sun Belt honors three times. Another receiver he coached, Emanuel Thompson, led he Sun Belt in receptions in 2016 with 80.
247COMMENTS
Cornelius Williams Coaching Background: 2010 graduate assistant, South Alabama; 2011, wide receivers coach, Murray State; 2012, wide receivers coach, North Alabama; 2013, wide receivers coach, Jacksonville State; 2014, wide receivers coach, UAB; 2015-18, wide receivers coach, Troy; 2019-20, passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach, Troy
Auburn Undercover is updating this story. Check back soon for additional information.
By AuburnUndercover.com Staff7 hrs
247
Highlights: Georgia State at No. 23 Auburn
AUBURN, Alabama--Auburn has fired first-year wide receivers coach Cornelius Williams four games into the 2021 football season, sources close to the situation confirmed to Auburn Undercover and Inside the Auburn Tigers on Sunday afternoon.
Williams, who was previously the receivers coach at Troy, was hired by Bryan Harsin in January with a contract worth $600,000 over two years. According to a copy of the contract provided to Auburn Undercover via a records request in March, Williams is owed a buyout of the remainder of his deal, though the total amount will be mitigated if Williams takes another college coaching job.
Offensive analyst Eric Kiesau, who was hired by Harsin in the offseason after serving as his offensive coordinator at Boise State from 2019-20, will take over as receivers' coach, according to informed sources.
Auburn's wide receivers have been inconsistent at best over the past two weeks as they try to transition to a new offensive system and more expected of them at the position. The Tigers are having to replace all three starters from a season ago and did not have a single returning receiver with double digit career receptions heading into the season. With drops and miscommunications a big issue in Auburn's passing game, the Tigers scored only one offensive touchdown in a 34-24 win over Georgia State over the weekend.
As a coach on multiple teams that put up strong offensive numbers, Williams made the move to Auburn from his alma mater, Troy University, where he coached wide receivers the past six seasons. Last year his group finished with receiving games of 100 or more yards 11 times, breaking the previous school record of seven.
His 2020 receivers helped the Trojans tie the school record for 500-yard offensive performances with six while scoring at least 35 points in eight games, the fourth highest total in Sun Belt Conference history. He was part of four conference championship teams at Troy.
Williams also coached wide receivers on teams at Murray State, Jacksonville State and UAB that put up impressive offensive numbers with the receivers a big part of the equation.
When making the hire, Harsin said, "Cornelius is a great fit for the staff we are assembling. He is a strong teacher of the game on the field and has been developing recruiting ties in Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi during his time at Troy. As a Birmingham native, and his state of Alabama roots, he understands what Auburn football is all about and the type of player and high character individuals we want bring in and develop. I’m excited to see his energy and passion for the game guide our wide receiver."
As a coach at Troy his receivers earned All-Sun Belt honors 14 times. He played on four state championship teams at Hoover High School where he set single-season records for receptions (77) and receiving yardage (1,300). He earned All-State honors as a senior. In his first season as a coach at South Alabama that team finished 10-0. Williams was a four-year letterman at Troy from 2006-09 and helped lead the Trojans to three bowls and a 26-3 Sun Belt record. He finished his collegiate career with 63 receptions for 764 yards and seven touchdowns.
At Jacksonville State he helped the Gamecocks reach the FCS quarter-finals with one of his players, Josh Badge, earning Freshman All-America honors. In his one season at Murray State the team led the Ohio Valley Conference in scoring and receiving yards. At UAB a receiver he coached, J.J. Nelson, was a fifth round draft pick by Arizona. In 2018 Damion Willis produced 213 receiving yards vs. Louisiana, the second highest total in Troy history. He coached Deondre Douglas, who earned All-Sun Belt honors three times. Another receiver he coached, Emanuel Thompson, led he Sun Belt in receptions in 2016 with 80.
247COMMENTS
Cornelius Williams Coaching Background: 2010 graduate assistant, South Alabama; 2011, wide receivers coach, Murray State; 2012, wide receivers coach, North Alabama; 2013, wide receivers coach, Jacksonville State; 2014, wide receivers coach, UAB; 2015-18, wide receivers coach, Troy; 2019-20, passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach, Troy
Auburn Undercover is updating this story. Check back soon for additional information.
Posted on 9/27/21 at 12:41 am to aubierawks
It's beyond the drops.
Its the misalignments.
Its the false start penalties.
Its the not winning 1 on 1 battles.
Its the not finding the ball in the air.
Its the not creating separation.
Its not blocking on the perimeter.
Kobe Hudson is the only one that has produced consistently. I think Malcolm Johnson should play more. Canion & Capers finally appeared. JJ needs to get more deep shots. There's no upside in playing Jackson & Robertson over these guys.
Next question...why don't use the TEs more? And where's Brandon Frazier?
Its the misalignments.
Its the false start penalties.
Its the not winning 1 on 1 battles.
Its the not finding the ball in the air.
Its the not creating separation.
Its not blocking on the perimeter.
Kobe Hudson is the only one that has produced consistently. I think Malcolm Johnson should play more. Canion & Capers finally appeared. JJ needs to get more deep shots. There's no upside in playing Jackson & Robertson over these guys.
Next question...why don't use the TEs more? And where's Brandon Frazier?
Posted on 9/27/21 at 1:34 am to thirdlawson
Lots of chatter that he was fired during halftime and did not coach the 2nd half. 
Posted on 9/27/21 at 1:47 am to thirdlawson
quote:
Next question...why don't use the TEs more?
Shenker has as many receptions as anybody else. He probably doesn't have as many targets as most because he actually catches the ball when it's thrown to him........most of the time.
Posted on 9/27/21 at 5:02 am to AUcs13
Don’t worry. I saved it.
Posted on 9/27/21 at 5:15 am to aubierawks
Maybe the guy taking over will help them understand the offense and expectations better? You do remember who would never have had the grapes to do that and bench Nix?
Posted on 9/27/21 at 6:10 am to Poker Dough
The Boise boys vs The other guys. Hars trust the Boise guys. (Human nature). We have all complained about the WR, let’s not get upset about a change. There will be significant change after the season as that concerns me more.
Posted on 9/27/21 at 6:15 am to allin2010
quote:Where is there proof of problems within the coaching ranks of us vs them other than speculation by reporters wanting clicks? Until there is some proof, I don't think we should be pushing that agenda
The Boise boys vs The other guys.
Posted on 9/27/21 at 6:40 am to ever43
quote:
Lots of chatter that he was fired during halftime and did not coach the 2nd half.
Please let this be true
Posted on 9/27/21 at 6:40 am to CorchJay
quote:
MrAuTigers I’ll say it again….
Outside
Canion
Capers
Inside
D-Rob
J. Johnson
Outside
Hudson
M. Johnson
Agreed. Now go back and look at the stars on these fellas, there is a lot, a lot of talent in that lineup. No reason why we should not have a good passing offense.
Posted on 9/27/21 at 7:03 am to 88TIger
quote:
Where is there proof of problems within the coaching ranks of us vs them other than speculation by reporters wanting clicks?
If you require proof for it to be true then you’re probably not going to get proof.
Just like you’re not going to get proof that the 4th and 2 call was pre determined.
Or that such n such gave us a silent commitment.
It all boils down to believing whatever makes you feel good at night.
Posted on 9/27/21 at 7:08 am to 88TIger
quote:
Where is there proof of problems within the coaching ranks of us vs them other than speculation by reporters wanting clicks? Until there is some proof, I don't think we should be pushing that agenda
Message board insiders naturally going to run with that story
Posted on 9/27/21 at 7:47 am to RockyMtnTigerWDE
quote:
These same people would be calling for his head if he left the WR coach in place. Sorry, Sammy Coates lashing out with very little insight into the matter.
What baffles me is the majority of folks on here have been complaining about WRs underperforming this season. So now when there is seemingly a “solution” to this problem, the same folks want to complain about this too? I don’t get it.
quote:
It’s his program to run and is correcting an error.
I’m all on board with the change - correcting an obvious problem on the team and sending a message to other staff members that Harsin has certain expectations for his program, and if you don’t meet them then your arse is grass. The *only* concern I have is if you do stuff like this too much or too drastically, it can cause distrust. But I think at this point it’s just Harsin sending a message and establishing his way of doing things.
Posted on 9/27/21 at 7:51 am to kung fu kenny
quote:
What baffles me is the majority of folks on here have been complaining about WRs underperforming this season. So now when there is seemingly a “solution” to this problem, the same folks want to complain about this too? I don’t get it.
Welcome to the Auburn message board
Posted on 9/27/21 at 7:51 am to kung fu kenny
I agree. If Harsin demands a high standard from everyone and he sees something that he is concerned about, I would hope he wouldn't just stick with the status quo.
The only thing that sucks, to me, is with Corn's connections to high schools in the state, if there is any bad blood there, that is just one more guy out there in Alabama negatively recruiting Auburn. You'd hope everyone could be an adult about it, but I won't hold my breath on that.
The only thing that sucks, to me, is with Corn's connections to high schools in the state, if there is any bad blood there, that is just one more guy out there in Alabama negatively recruiting Auburn. You'd hope everyone could be an adult about it, but I won't hold my breath on that.
Posted on 9/27/21 at 7:56 am to IAmNERD
quote:
negatively recruiting Auburn
Putting a good product on the field negates negative recruiting. Saturday looked like vomit on the field. Something needed to be changed.
Posted on 9/27/21 at 7:59 am to jvilletiger25
quote:
Saturday looked like vomit on the field. Something needed to be changed.
No, I agree. I'm all in making the move. shite, at least it's not banging your head in the wall knowing it won't work.
I was just pointing to one downside I could think of.
Posted on 9/27/21 at 8:00 am to kung fu kenny
quote:
What baffles me is the majority of folks on here have been complaining about WRs underperforming this season.
We expected receivers to be weak and those dudes were not even Corn’s dudes.
DBs were supposed to be our strongest unit but basically dead last in the country in defensive pass efficiency.
You had white boy bubba put up a buck 50 rushing yards on our supposedly solid defense.
You got a DL that cannot pass rush.
But we fired the WR coach after 4 games.
Posted on 9/27/21 at 8:06 am to kung fu kenny
quote:
The *only* concern I have is if you do stuff like this too much or too drastically, it can cause distrust. But I think at this point it’s just Harsin sending a message and establishing his way of doing things.
Valid concern
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