Christian Neptune missed spring with a shoulder injury, but don't overlook the Auburn receiver. With experience in Alex Golesh's offense and chemistry with Byrum Brown, Neptune could emerge as one of the Tigers' biggest breakout weapons during fall camp.
Plenty of eyes will be on the Auburn Tigers' wide receiver room as fall camp opens this week.
And Christian Neptune has quietly become one of the most intriguing players to pay attention to, with plenty of attention surrounding the newcomers at wide receiver and the excitement generated from a day in the spring. It's easy to overlook a player who simply wasn't on the field.
However, he is no stranger to Alex Golesh's offense.
A quiet off-season due to a shoulder injury shouldn't be seen as a lack of opportunity, something that Neptune still has a very good chance to carve out heading into week one against the Baylor Bears this season.
As Golesh's offensive system is built around speed, tempo, and creating mismatches, having versatile receivers like one as speedy as Neptune could really come in handy, especially once initial adjustments have been made in-game. Auburn already expects players such as Keshaun Singleton, Chas Nimrod, and Jeremiah Koger to handle a large amount of the target share. However, there will still be plenty left on the table for other wide receivers on this roster.
Last season at South Florida, 10 different wide receivers caught a pass and seven finished with double-digit receptions. The offense spreads the football around, and Neptune has already shown he knows exactly how to operate within it.
As a true freshman with the Bulls, Neptune hauled in 38 receptions for 335 yards and a touchdown. Talent has never been a question for the transfer heading to the Plains. It's only been whether he could find a way to get on the field healthy.
While Neptune was nursing that shoulder injury this spring, other wide receivers such as DeShawn Spencer took advantage of the extra opportunities and will likely see more playing time because of it.
However, the sophomore has something that Spencer doesn't have, and that's experience with the Tigers' new quarterback.
With a brand new offense heading into Auburn, it will be crucial for wide receivers to understand everything once they get on the field fully. It's a type of offense that wants to keep defenses from substituting and constantly attack those favorable matchups. That's where Neptune will thrive.
Although he was fifth on the team last year in receiving yards, he was tied for second in receptions. It shows that Golesh trusts him, and although it is believed that a trio of wide receivers will be in front of him, it may not be that way when it comes to predicting the target share.
If he has a good fall and enough time to develop and build up for the season opener, don't be surprised if the conversation around Auburn's passing game quickly shifts back in Neptune's direction. His speed is a weapon that not many players have and could instantly make this brand-new Tigers system one of the most dangerous inside the conference.
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