Neptune has maintained a positive attitude and used the experience to grow as a football player and as a leader on the team.
Auburn wide receiver Christian Neptune is one of five USF wide receivers to follow the Tigers’ new head coach Alex Golesh to the Plains. He has been one of the most talked-about receivers throughout the offseason, but he hasn’t been able to show off his full potential yet while still recovering from a shoulder injury that required surgery in the spring.
Though spring practice and summer workouts are tough to miss with an injury, especially for a player who is new to the program, Neptune has maintained a positive attitude and used the experience to grow as a football player and as a leader on the team.
“It helped me grow not only physically, but mentally as well,” Neptune said, via Auburn 247. “It also gave me the chance to develop as a teammate. We’ve got younger players like DeShawn Spencer, who had an incredible spring, and being able to support him, talk with him, and help guide him has truly been a blessing. It’s all about perspective, and I choose to view the experience as a positive one.”
There has been much discussion about whether or not the Auburn football wide receiver corps, made up mostly of USF transfers, will be able to hang in the SEC, but wide receivers coach Kodi Burns expects his group will be able to go out and do their thing this fall. According to Neptune, going up against the Tigers’ defense has been good preparation as he gets back in the groove.
“I’m continuing to study and break down defenses while playing at full speed and making full-speed decisions,” Neptune said, via AL.com. “I’m gradually getting my repetitions back and becoming more comfortable against the defense. We’re competing against what I believe is the best defense in the country right now. It’s about understanding how to execute whatever coach KB asks of me. Whether I’m lining up inside, outside, or even serving as a scout-team player, my goal is simply to do the job to the best of my ability.”
For now, Neptune is anxiously waiting for the time when he can remove his orange no-contact jersey and get back to playing full speed with his teammates. He reports that the trainers expect the jersey to come off soon, and that Neptune will be healthy and ready to go for the start of the season in September.
