Will Hastings 'giving everything' in senior season

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'Super quick': Gus Malzahn says Will Hastings can get open versus anybody

AUBURN, Ala. – Enduring two knee surgeries last year tested Will Hastings' faith.

"That was probably the turning moment of my life," the Auburn senior receiver said following the first practice of his senior season.

Hastings spent the summer of 2018 rehabilitating an ACL tear that happened during spring practice. Two games into the season, he suffered another knee injury. Another surgery. More months of rehab.

"It's definitely not been easy," he said. "There's multiple days where I just questioned, why me? But I realized in the long run you can't do that to yourself because it will only turn out worse for you.

"After that I chose not to choose 'Why me?' and I just decided to attack the rehab and say I'm going to get after it and I know God has a plan and so I just trusted him throughout the whole process.

"That was back in October and now we're sitting here today in August and I feel really good. There were definitely tough nights though."

After graduating from the Raymond J. Harbert College of Business in May, Hastings could've pursued professional football or embarked on his business career. Instead, he's grinding through preseason camp with his Auburn teammates.

"I chose to come back because I love Auburn," Hastings said. "One of the ESPN guys interviewed me and said, 'What does 'Ride for the Brand' mean to you?' I just said truly sacrificing everything because this place, when I was a kicker walk-on, gave me life. I give everything to this school and I love this place and so that's why I'm coming back. I'm giving everything I can this year. I hope my body holds up and whatever I can do, I can help."

Hastings arrived in 2015, a walk-on kicker who had 2,040 receiving yards as a high school senior on a state champion team in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Auburn coach Gus Malzahn gave Hastings two opportunities to work his onside kick magic in 2015, but neither succeeded.

"I fired him," Malzahn said at SEC Media Days in July, before sharing the rest of the story.

"Then we had some depth issues in the spring at wide receiver. We put him in there, and it took about a week to figure out he's pretty good. Now he's ended up being one of our best players. I think he'll have a chance to play in the NFL."

From demoted walk-on kicker to NFL prospect.

"No one would have expected that," Hastings said. "For him to even say that is truly an honor. That means the world to me that he thinks that I have the ability to go out and play in the NFL."

Hastings flashed that ability in 2016 with clutch catches against Clemson, his first career touchdown against Arkansas State, and receptions in the Iron Bowl and Sugar Bowl.

In 2017, Hastings averaged 20.2 yards per catch with 26 receptions for 525 yards and four touchdowns.

Will Hastings celebrates Auburn's 2017 Iron Bowl win

Then came last season, and those two knee surgeries. Now he's back, the seasoned veteran with the youthful appearance.

"He's super quick, He's one of the quickest guys we've had. Will can get open versus anybody covering him in a man-to-man situations," Malzahn said. "He looks like he's about 13 years old, too. If you ever see him, you wouldn't think he's an SEC player."

When Hastings celebrated his birthday on July 30, he texted Auburn's head coach.

"'We'll, I'm 14 today. Thanks for wishing me happy birthday,'" Hastings said. "He loves to joke around. At first it got to me but now it doesn't, it all just kind of makes me laugh, too. It's nice being young because now I feel old and my body feels old. Nice being told you're young."
 

Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer