Bryan Harsin details Landen King moving to wide receiver during Auburn spring game

Bryan Harsin has a valuable and versatile weapon on the Auburn Tigers in tight end Landen King. King has taken reps through the spring both at tight end and at wide receiver, and that was on display during Auburn’s A-Day on Saturday.

Harsin praised King for his ability to get in work with both the tight end and wide receiver groups, and believes that it is going to help him turn into a valuable and better all-around player down the road.

“That was good,” Harsin said of King’s switch to wide receiver. “We did that from a depth standpoint, but he was doing those things at tight end too. So I think he’s done a really good job with coach (Brad) Bedell, getting in there with coach (Ike) Hilliard, who’s done a great job with him. It’s just going to make him a better player.”

Harsin loves King’s mentality when switching between tight end, receiver in Auburn’s offense

King came to Auburn as a three-star tight end as part of the 2021 class, according to the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average. He played in eight games last season as a true freshman, bringing in five receptions for 59 yards and one touchdown. King’s longest reception was good for a 25-yard gain, and he averaged 11.8 yards per reception.

Having someone like King that can line up out wide or on the line will be valuable for Auburn this season. Harsin said that King has embraced his role and ultimately wants to do whatever it takes to help the Tigers have success.

“I mean right now he can do both,” Harsin said. “He can be on the line of scrimmage, he can be split out wide. I mean it gives us an advantage with what he’s able to do. The thing about Landen that you really love about him is like look, we need you to do this. ‘All right,’ I mean he doesn’t flinch. It’s not one of those like, ‘What are we doing?’ It’s like, ‘All right.’ He’s sitting in that meeting room the next day and he’s just like, ‘You’re gonna throw me the ball? Yes, good, I’ll do whatever.’

“So you love that about him. That’s the thing that since I’ve known Landen, like his attitude towards just what’s it going to take for me to help us be successful. He’ll do it. So we’ll keep figuring out where he fits and what he’s doing. But I mean those are just reps to make him a better football player and to help our team.”