Clemson vs Auburn player spotlight:Will Hastings

When the No. 3 Clemson Tigers and the No. 13 Auburn Tigers get together at Death Valley tonight, former walk-on kicker Will Hastings should play significant snaps as a slot receiver for Auburn.

Hastings is listed modestly at 5’10, and I say modestly because that is Clemson receiver Hunter Renfrow’s listed height. In my opinion, Renfrow is definitely taller.

As a slight 155 pound senior, Hastings had 2,040 receiving yards at 5A Pulaski Academy(AR). The 2,040 receiving yards is second all-time in Arkansas High School history. He was also a kicker/onside kick specialist for head coach Kevin Kelley. Pulaski Academy is a successful football program that never punts.

Hastings had scholarship offers from D2 schools for receiver and was also an outstanding soccer player, but he decided to chase his dreams and play for a big school. In a

post game interview

, Hastings talked about how he got to Auburn, “I called Auburn a couple days before signing day…..we want you to be a preferred walk-on.”

He appeared in only two games as a freshman kicker.

Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn, a former college walk-on himself, released Hastings from his kicking duties during the spring and made him a receiver. A move that Hastings wanted and has made the most of the opportunity.

Last season, he had 11 receptions, 98 yards and one touchdown.

His production will increase this season. In the Auburn A-Day spring game and Saturday’s 41-7 win over Georgia Southern, Hastings was starting quarterback Jarrett Stidham’s favorite target. He had seven catches for 75 yards and four catches, 68 yards, and one touchdown, respectively in those games.

The kid called “White Lightning” because of his quickness and laser timed 4.35 speed was given a scholarship in August.

Hastings won’t be a stranger to the Clemson secondary. In last season’s matchup with the Tigers, he made three catches for 29 yards with all three of them going for first downs. He was able to help keep Auburn drives alive with two on third down and one on a fourth down.

Most college football fans won’t hear Will Hastings name mentioned before the 7:00 p.m. ET kickoff tonight, but Renfrow and Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney know the name and the game. As former walk-ons themselves, both can relate to Hastings’s path to playing time and will likely make sure no Clemson defensive player underestimates him.