Swinton catching on at wide receiver

James Swinton has had plenty of highlights during preseason practice.

After all, the senior wide receiver might be Auburn’s most improved offensive player. He’s turned in a big play in almost every practice during the preseason.

But his most impressive moment might have been a play that didn’t look good at all.

During an 11-on-11 passing drill earlier this month, Swinton blew past a defender on a deep route, outdistancing the coverage. Quarterback Kodi Burns’ pass was on target, and as the pass reached Swinton, the wideout was just a few steps from a long touchdown catch.

But the ball skidded off Swinton’s fingers and hit the turf. The play went from highlight to letdown in the blink of an eye.

And Swinton shook his head, jogged back to the line of scrimmage and ran the next play.

In Swinton’s mind, that moment — not the juggling catch he made on the same route a few plays later — was his most impressive.

In the past, a critical drop like that would have ruined Swinton’s day. More importantly, it would have ruined his focus. The hyper-competitive Swinton would have spent the rest of practice kicking himself for the missed opportunity. In the process, he would have missed still more opportunities.

That inability to put a bad play behind him kept Swinton buried on the depth chart throughout his first four seasons at AU. It’s the main reason the player his teammates agree is Auburn’s fastest has a grand total of three career catches.

Now, Swinton has a whole new outlook — and he’s playing like an entirely new player.

“I feel like this year, I’ve been consistent,” he said. “I may drop a pass I should have caught, but then I come back and catch the next one, make a better play.”

It helps that in coordinator Tony Franklin’s fast-paced, no-huddle offense, there isn’t much time for players to stew over the past. There’s always another play to be run.

“We get a lot more chances,” Swinton said. “With the last offense I was in, there weren’t too many chances you can get. This offense, you can always look for another chance.

“You can say, ‘OK, I’ll just have to come back the next play and get it.’”

Since the start of spring practice, Swinton has done that. It’s helped him rocket to the top of the depth chart at the “Z” receiver position. And it’s earned him enthusiastic praise from outside receivers coach Greg Knox, who has coached him throughout his career.

Since the start of preseason camp, Knox has referred to Swinton as the Tigers’ most impressive receiver.

“He’s working hard, he’s doing all the little things we’ve asked him to do,” Knox said. “I’m really proud of him going into his senior year — it seems like he’s ready to take advantage of it.”

The transition to Franklin’s system from Al Borges’ more conservative scheme has certainly helped. But the playbook isn’t everything.

Swinton — and his new attitude — deserve much of the credit.

“The light has come on,” Knox said. “The switch of the offense gave him confidence. He’s really, really taken hold of it and he’s running with it.”

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