Auburn football thinks it has a good problem.

Throughout preseason practices, there has been a wide-ranging and constant rotation, especially among the wide receivers in practice. It’s because head coach Hugh Freeze and Auburn believe they have more options that can make an impact from a position group that has traditionally not produced many stars in Auburn’s history.

Freeze’s long-term answer to Auburn’s 1,000-yard receiver drought is recruiting, but top prospects like 5-star Auburn commit Perry Thompson aren’t here yet.

So for now it’s a rotation, and Freeze named eight wide receivers he expects to be a part of that group. Injuries have made his evaluations harder, Freeze said, and his rotation could expand further once players like Koy Moore and Malcolm Johnson Jr. get healthy.

Below is a breakdown of who Freeze and Auburn see as the targets newly named starting quarterback Payton Thorne will be working with.

Wide receivers

Ja’Varrius Johnson

Johnson was Auburn’s leading receiver last year with 493 yards. Freeze is expecting a much higher number than that this season. Johnson is going to have a role again as a slot receiver, but his camp has been made more difficult by injuries. After Auburn’s first scrimmage, Freeze said Johnson dealt with some sort of incident in practice that caused him to need stitches in his mouth. That made it difficult for Johnson to put on a chin strap and practice in full. He looks to be back over the last few days of practice, and will be one of the more reliable targets for the fourth starting quarterback he’s worked with at Auburn.

Jay Fair

One of the biggest risers of fall camp, Fair has consistently been among the first three wide receivers to take the field in practice. He had two catches last season. He’s going to have a lot more this year. The sophomore has been among the most talked about receivers throughout this fall and depending on Johnson’s health, has a very realistic chance to start in the slot come the game against UMass.

Omari Kelly

Similar to Fair, Kelly is a returning wide receiver who has been a popular talking point around Auburn this preseason. Kelly has lined up both in the slot and outside and like Fair, has frequently been in the first trio of wide receivers out during drills. And similar to Fair, he had only three catches last season for Auburn. Kelly could be another week-one starter, though a player like Koy Moore eventually returning from injuries could move him on the depth chart. Coaches and teammates have spoken highly of him and he too will see a big jump this year.

Shane Hooks

The Jackson State transfer is huge. Hooks is 6-foot-4, 191 pounds and looks like quite the mismatch when lined up outside. He had just under 1,000 yards with Deion Sanders’ bunch. Running a two-minute drill, Hooks was one of Thorne’s favorite options. His size is going to make him a favorite target. Hooks has been another riser, and at times looked the part of a starting wide receiver. He and Nick Mardner have both lined up as the first outside receiver during different drills throughout practice. Hooks may have the higher potential of those two.

Jyaire Shorter

The North Texas transfer has spent most of the preseason rotating between the first-team and second-team groups. He’s going to line up outside at 6-foot-2, 209 pounds, and led the nation in yards per reception last season. It’s hard to quite define what his role will look like based on what has been seen in practice. He projects as a deep-threat option for Thorne.

Camden Brown

Auburn loves Camden Brown. One problem: he hasn’t gotten to play much. He broke the 100-yard receiving mark last season as a true freshman last season. Freeze said Brown has dealt with a string of “bad luck” during fall camp and has finally gotten to see him practice in full over the last few days. Now healthy, he has a chance to work his way up the depth chart, but it’s certainly too early to judge what his share of the rotation could look like. Brown is 6-foot-3 and work up to being a starter in the Mississippi State game last season. Once he’s at full strength, his role will increase.

Caleb Burton

Burton is immensely talented. He originally committed to Ohio State out of high school and Freeze said Burton has some of the best high school tape he’s ever seen. He immediately caused some buzz with two touchdown catches during offensive drills in Auburn’s first practice. He has the potential to create big plays out of the slot, but will likely be a rotational piece and not a starter early on with Auburn. Make some big plays, and his role will increase.

Nick Mardner

Like Hooks, Auburn loves Mardner’s size. He’s even taller than Hooks at 6-foot-6. Generally, he and Hooks are fairly similar players. Neither have top-end speed, but instead win with their size and strength. Hooks may have the higher ceiling, but Mardner’s best year as a collegiate receiver came when he had Marcus Davis as his coach at Hawaii. Davis, a former Auburn receiver himself, is now the wide receivers coach at Auburn. He hopes to bring Mardner back to that previous form.

Tight ends

Rivaldo Fairweather

Fairweather was the star on offensive Auburn’s 11th practice. Fairweather is a unique athlete. He’s a 6-foot-4, 251-pound tight end and certainly looks the part. The FIU transfer has made the tough over-the-middle catches that will make him a trusted target at Payton Thorne, but also has the speed and athletics to make a big play further down the field. Fairweather hasn’t dealt with much rotation as the steadfast tight-end starter. It would not come as a surprise at all if Fairweather is among Auburn’s leader in targets this fall.

Running backs

Jarquez Hunter

Hunter’s role on this team isn’t prioritizing pass-catching. He’ll be Auburn’s top running back. But with that position will come some short screen passes. He had over 200 receiving yards last season. Thorne has more pass-catching options than Robby Ashford had as Auburn’s starter last year, and running backs coach Cadillac Williams said Hunter has improved as a pass-catcher.

Damari Alston

Same goes for Alston. His primary role is as a runner, but he too has improved drastically as a pass catcher, according to Williams. He is the clear second-team running back behind Hunter, but he brings much more speed. Alston will tell you as much. Of Auburn’s top three running backs, he may have the fewest receptions, but he could have the most yards per catch.

Brian Battie

Battie’s biggest role on this offense may be as a pass catcher. He did that effectively at USF last season. Battie seems behind Hunter and Alston in the pecking order for carries, but he may be the best receiving back of the bunch. He can create big plays as he has shown both on offense and special teams. Auburn will want the ball in his hands as a safe check-down option for Thorne.

Matt Cohen covers Auburn sports for AL.com. You can follow him on Twitter at @Matt_Cohen_ or email him at [email protected]