With SEC play looming, can Auburn's receivers take the next step?

"Obviously, the big plays — the explosive plays — were not there. That's a big part of what we have to create."

WR Shedrick Jackson and WR Demetris Robertson (Todd Van Emst/Auburn Athletics)

Last week, a lot of talk about Auburn vs. Penn State centered on how similar the two teams were. Both had experienced quarterbacks who have had issues with consistency, offensive lines that have received criticism and talented defenses led by strong fronts.

But one of the major differences between the two rosters was at wide receiver. Penn State had an All-Big Ten talent in Jahan Dotson out wide and a former Freshman All-American lining up in the slot in Parker Washington. Bryan Harsin mentioned their names first when breaking down the matchup.

Auburn, on the other hand, entered 2021 without its top three receivers from each of the last two seasons. Two of them are now in the NFL. The experience coming back to the Plains this fall was slim, and it was a major storyline throughout the offseason.

On Saturday night, Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford took full advantage of Dotson and Washington, targeting them a…