Lashlee on Duke Williams decision: 'Between (Malzahn) and Duke'

AUBURN, Ala. -- Auburn offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee left little doubt Wednesday afternoon that the decision on D'haquille Williams will not be a groupthink effort.

Lashlee was clear as he addressed the media that the decision to return to the football field will be a decision that solely rests with only his boss - Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn.

Williams continues to be absent from practice activities since it was announced Thursday that he was dealing with "personal business" by Lashlee and later clarified as a "discipline issue" by Malzahn the next day.

Jason Smith, Williams' former teammate at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, said Wednesday the team is obviously preparing to play with Williams but are trying to not let his ongoing separation from the team be distraction.

"We're going to be fine regardless," Smith said. "When he gets back, that's just going to boost our confidence and just our aggressiveness at receiver. "He has his own personality, you know, everybody feels he's a great leader we still look up to him no matter what goes on, on or off the field."

With Auburn's motto of the 2015 season being 'Count on me', Lashlee was asked Wednesday if the coaching staff felt comfortable trusting the senior receiver currently separated from the team but not officially suspended or dismissed.

"He wasn't at practice today," Lashlee said. "I can count on the guys that were there and the guys that are on our team, we will. Coach will comment on that when that time comes. That's between he and coach."

With 25 days left until Auburn plays Louisville in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game in the Georgia Dome, it is still unknown when or if Williams' return to the field will happen.

"He had a discipline issue that we're taking care of and when he takes care of that, he'll be back on the field," Malzahn said last week of Williams' status with the team. "I'll make that decision. I will let you know when he'll back. Bottom line, nobody is bigger than the team around here and that's between me and him."

Roc Thomas separating himself in RB battle

Lashlee gave indication Wednesday that sophomore Roc Thomas might have separated himself early in the race for the starting tailback position.

Thomas is among a four-player battle with junior college transfer Javon Robinson, sophomore Peyton Barber and freshman Kerryon Johnson. The Oxford, Ala., native averaged five yards a carry last season in a limited role but ended the campaign with 214 yards and two touchdowns. The issue with Thomas is finding out if the 203-pound tailback can handle a 20-carry workload in a game.

"It's just that his style of play lends people to think that he's a finesse player," Lashlee said. "But what we're learning is that's not the case at all. You look at high school, he didn't have a whole lot of blocking. He was used to making people miss in the backfield and hopefully that'll change here."

Thomas said last week he didn't remember the last time he received 20 carries in a game but has been trying to prove to his coaches and teammates that he's capable of remaining healthy throughout the physical demand of the position.

"I don't know it's ever been about him (not being) physical, although I think it gets interpreted that way a lot," Lashlee said. "I think it's been, 'Is he durable enough? Can he hold up for a full season? Can he carry it 25 times a game?' We don't know that yet."

This story was originally published August 12, 2015 at 9:02 PM with the headline "Lashlee on Duke Williams decision: 'Between (Malzahn) and Duke' ."