50 Auburn players fans should know: Meet the freshman WR Kodi Burns is challenging the most
The freshman wide receiver who flipped from Alabama is working through inconsistency as coach Alex Golesh praises his recent performance and physical play.
Olivia Bennett 
EDITOR’S NOTE: Between now and the unofficial kickoff to the football preseason at SEC Media Days on July 20, 205focus.com is featuring one Auburn football player per day. We continue the series today with wide receiver Brian Williams Jr.
Physical Traits and Background
Brian Williams Jr. checks in at 6-foot-4 and 190 pounds, bringing a prototypical frame from Orlando, Florida, to the Plains. The 3-star prospect, as rated by the 247Sports composite, arrived at Auburn as the No. 137 wide receiver nationally and the No. 102 overall player out of Florida.
Fighting for Targets
The Auburn football wide receiver room is currently an open competition, with fall camp serving as the primary proving ground for players looking to secure a spot in the rotation. Williams, who famously flipped his commitment from Alabama to the Tigers, is joined by fellow freshman receiver DeShawn Spencer, who also made a late-cycle flip from Duke.
Coach Golesh on Williams’ Development
Head coach Alex Golesh has been open about the highs and lows of the freshman's transition to the collegiate level. While Williams has shown flashes of brilliance, consistency remains the primary hurdle.
"I thought Brian took a step," Golesh said. "He’s had some highs. He’s had some really bad lows, but they’ve all been mental in terms of the lows. And we’re trying to get him to go from a senior to a guy in this league. And today, I thought he took a step. There’s nothing worse than a guy that has moments but is inconsistent. And that’s what Brian’s been. And I thought today he was really consistent. Went up, got the ball, made some plays, played physical on the perimeter."
The Kodi Burns Factor
Wide receivers coach Kodi Burns is leading the charge in refining Williams' mental approach. According to Golesh, Burns plays a critical role in managing the growing pains of a young receiver adjusting to the physicality of the SEC.
"Kodi and I kind of keep going back and forth and like, ‘Man, he has these freshman moments’. And it’s when it gets hard and he gets punched in the face, and he’s got to snap out of it," Golesh explained. "Kodi keeps challenging him and challenging him and challenging him. And Kodi has a really unique way of building guys up and making them really confident."
Coming Saturday: We feature the Tigers’ leader on the offensive line, Cole Best.
