Auburn's Landen King talks full-time receiver, Ike Hilliard and NIL opportunities

AUBURN – There may not be a more intriguing player on Auburn’s football roster than sophomore Landen King.

That might seem an odd statement for a player with only a handful of catches last season. However, there are some valid reasons that make the statement true.

Standing 6-foot-5 and 220 pounds, King might be undersized for a tight end, it’s perfect if you’re in need of a big-bodied receiver. And it just so happens, Auburn is in need.

Halfway through the 2021 season, King started spending more time in the wide receiver film room before and after practices. Against Arkansas, King contributed 23 yards receiving, but wasn’t used much after that until he caught a one-handed game-tying overtime touchdown against Alabama.

When spring camp started, King was still splitting time between tight end and wide receiver. Two weeks into camp, that officially ended and King was moved to receiver full time.

There are two main reasons that move happened.

First, King has the ability to help Auburn’s passing game and possesses attributes that nobody else on the roster possesses.

Second, the tight end room is jam-packed with able bodies, including John Samuel Shenker, Luke Deal, Tyler Fromm, Brandon Frazier, and now freshman Micah Riley-Ducker.

Those two things combined to create the opportunity for King to make a move that should bode well for everyone involved. The question now are how quickly will King develop, and can he make a significant impact this fall?

“I felt like I was ready last year, and I’m better than I was last year,” King told Auburn Live. “I’m ready to prove people wrong.”

King believes he’s faster than when he first arrived at Auburn, and has seen his footwork and ability to change directions improve since the season ended.

“I’ve seen myself grow. I’m ready, this is going to be fun,” he said.

The Beaumont, Texas-native hopes to average a first down every time he catches the ball, but that isn’t the main thing on his mind.

“If we can just win, I’d be happy. If we win, that’s better than any amount of touchdowns,” he said. “This team, it would mean something more.”

King joins a competitive receiving room entering fall camp.

Shedrick Jackson leads Ze’Vian Capers at the “X” position, Tar’Varish Dawson and Ja’Varrius Johnson are locked in battle at the “H” position, and King is currently playing both the slot and the “Z” position behind Malcolm Johnson Jr. Then there are transfers Koy Moore and Dazalin Worsham, plus freshmen Jay Fair, Camden Brown and Omari Kelly all working to get into the mix.

“Everybody in the room is nice,” King said, adding the receivers have enjoyed their fair share of success against the Auburn defense during player-led-practices this summer.

“The receiver room is making it better. Ike is making it better,” he said, “and maybe I was put in a perfect situation.”

Thankful for Ike Hilliard

Speaking of new receivers coach Ike Hilliard, for Landen King, it’s hard to imagine a better hire Bryan Harsin could have made after Eric Kiesau moved into the offensive coordinator role.

“Harsin getting him, that was one of his best decisions,” King said. “We can all relate to him. When a coach tells you he loves you every single day, it does something to the whole room. We want to do everything for Coach Ike. Coach Ike is a legend. He’s one of us. Having that in our room specifically, that was the best thing we could have.”

Hilliard has instilled two important elements into that receiving room since he arrived.

First, no jealousy. It’s about the team first. Second, it’s about proving the doubters wrong.

“Coach Ike, he said we have to start showing these people what we can do. We’re going to be a good asset to the team for real,” King said. “And we’re like one group. That’s hard to stop. Nobody is worried about who is starting, everybody is good. There’s no jealousy. Coach Ike — I’m glad we got him.”

Bring on the NIL opportunities

What Landen King can bring to this Auburn football team combined with his outgoing personality make him eager to take advantage of NIL opportunities.

And the opportunities are just beginning. The NIL Auburn collective is undergoing a positive transformation into the On To Victory collective. The Players’ Lounge and Plains NIL Club are helping educate and connect players to the community, and the university’s new SPIRIT Exchange will allow even more connection between the fanbase and the student-athletes.

“I have to show up on the field for all that to come into play,” King said. “I’m excited. You know I’m excited. I can really take advantage of this time.”

Harsin continues to encourage and educate his team when it comes to NIL, but also reinforces that when success on the field comes, NIL opportunities will follow.

“They give us the resources to learn about it. I don’t think anybody has a problem where they’re just worried about NIL,” King said. “People think we just want NIL, but we’re really not thinking about that for real. The football stuff is way more important.

“I want to get more into the community. I feel like, if people know you and can relate to you, how can they not like you? I’m that type of person from the get go. I can make people laugh, and I don’t have to be somebody else.”