In the wake of his suspension from Thursday’s Outback Bowl, Auburn junior wide receiver Duke Williams apologized to teammates and fans in an interview with the team’s official website.

“I let my teammates down and I’m sorry for that,” Williams told the website. “I let the Auburn family down, too, and I’m sorry for that. I made a mistake, so I have to learn by that. As the days go by, and the game gets closer, I think about that because I could be out there playing with my brothers, and the seniors because it’s their last year. To sit on the sidelines and watch hurts me a lot. And I know it hurts the Auburn family that I’m not playing with my team.”

Williams told AuburnTigers.com’s Charles Goldberg he’s man enough to accept his punishment for a violation of team rules. Both he and head coach Gus Malzahn have declined to go into details.

Despite Williams’ career outing the last time he stepped onto the gridiron — he caught seven passes for 121 yards against Alabama — that didn’t stop Malzahn from issuing a suspension. Williams didn’t practice with the team on campus prior to Auburn’s departure for Tampa, though he is working with the scout team now.

“He just let me know how it is. ‘There are consequences,’ he said. I said, ‘I’m willing to accept whatever you have for me, Coach.’ He gave me a chance, and I respect him for that. I learned from this mistake.”

The JUCO transfer leads the Tigers in receiving despite missing two games with a knee injury suffered against Texas A&M in early November. Williams recorded 45 receptions for 730 yards and five touchdowns. Williams said this is not the circumstances under which he wants to leave Auburn, confirming his return in the exclusive interview with Auburn’s official website.

“I’m 100 percent coming back. I feel like we have some unfinished business,” Williams said.