Keshaun Singleton is becoming Auburn football's most trusted playmaker under Alex Golesh. With 22 catches for 268 yards through four games, the Tigers receiver is making clutch catches, delivering key blocks and emerging as one of the SEC's most complete weapons.
Keshaun Singleton is starting to become the guy the Auburn Tigers trusts when it absolutely has to have a play.
And it was definitely on display during the final drive against Vanderbilt on Saturday.
Auburn got the ball with 6:20 remaining, needing to finish the game.
Singleton made two of the biggest plays.
The first came on third-and-5 with 5:01 remaining when Byrum Brown found Singleton over the middle for 20 yards and a first down.
"You look at a guy like Keshaun Singleton, and the moment is never too big, and he seems to make a play," Auburn receivers coach Kodi Burns said. "I talk about this all the time, I think games are won in moments."
But Singleton wasn't done. He stepped up yet again in ways not all receivers are willing to do.
Jeremiah Cobb eventually broke a 21-yard run around the edge that essentially ended the game.
And one of the biggest reasons he got there was Singleton.
"It ends with Cobb's run around the edge with Keshaun Singleton, like as good of a crack block as you'll have," Alex Golesh said.
Singleton didn't finish the game by catching another pass.
He finished it by doing something that probably won't show up when people look at his receiving numbers.
Burns said Singleton did "a tremendous job with the detail" of working back and blocking Vanderbilt's middle linebacker.
"He did a great job of letting up, blocking him off, boxing him out," Burns said.
Now look at what Singleton has done through four games.
He has 22 catches for 268 yards and a touchdown.
Fifteen of those receptions have resulted in either a first down or touchdown.
And Burns believes we're seeing the best version of Singleton because his preparation is finally matching his ability.
"I think Keshaun's playing at an extremely high level," Burns said. "He's a big-time play waiting to happen. Got tremendous ball skills. I think he's improved a lot as a route runner."
And it's not just on the field where he's excelling. As a leader within this new program and coaching regime, he has also taken an important role.
"You see him in the meeting room with the notebook now, and I think he understands the urgency at which he has to bring every single day at this level."
Singleton's a special player. The fact that he can win routes and is willing to block on the perimeter against players bigger than him to ensure his team can win important reps goes a long way, not only for his collegiate career but for what could potentially be at the next level for him.
Burns even called him "one of the better players" in the SEC.
That's a pretty significant statement, and he has the opportunity to continue that narrative with a big game on Saturday against Tennessee.
