Auburn’s freshman wide receivers, Cam Coleman and Perry Thompson, could be the key to improving their wide receiver position in 2024.
**Trivia Time:** When was the last time Auburn had a receiver with a 1,000-yard season?
If you guessed Ronney Daniels in 1999, you’d be right. That’s correct—Auburn hasn’t had a receiver hit the 1,000-yard mark since the turn of the century. It’s surprising considering the talent they’ve had, like Sammie Coates (who topped out at 902 yards in 2013) and Seth Williams (with a high of 830 yards in 2019).
Even with a Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback during that time, Auburn came close but never quite hit the mark. Darvin Adams nearly reached 1,000 yards in 2010 with 963 and came even closer in 2009 with 997 yards.
The last few seasons haven’t given Auburn fans much to cheer about at the receiver position, but there’s hope on the horizon. Hugh Freeze and the Tigers revamped their receiver corps this offseason, bringing in transfers KeAndre Lambert-Smith (Penn State), Sam Jackson V (Cal), and Robert Lewis (Georgia State) to provide immediate help.
However, the biggest additions are two high-profile recruits: five-star Cam Coleman and highly-touted four-star Perry Thompson. Auburn also brought in four-star recruits Malcolm Simmons and Bryce Cain from high school.
Coleman, a top-10 player in the 2024 class out of Central High School in Phenix City, Alabama, played for Auburn legend Patrick Nix. Landing Coleman, seen as the top player in Alabama by both On3 and 247, was a huge recruiting win. He’s expected to contribute immediately, boasting quality size (6’3, 190), a polished skill set, and 4.4 speed.
Thompson, a top-100 recruit from Foley High School in Alabama (the same school as Julio Jones), also has the potential to make an impact. He possesses ideal size (6’3, 205) and speed, clocking in the 4.4s in the 40-yard dash. While Thompson is projected to make a bigger impact in his second and third years, he’ll likely see significant playing time as a freshman.
In Auburn’s Week 1 win over Alabama A&M, Thompson had two catches for 82 yards and a touchdown, while Coleman added two catches for 62 yards and a score. Both touchdowns were long gains, with Thompson’s going for 70 yards and Coleman’s for 44.
The question now is whether Coleman or Thompson can break Auburn’s drought and become a 1,000-yard receiver. A lot will depend on quarterback play. Auburn returns Payton Thorne as the starter for 2024. Thorne had an up-and-down season in 2023, completing 61.1% of his passes for 1,755 yards, 16 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. Fans often blame poor receiver play and inconsistent offensive line performance, but with Auburn’s new receivers, those excuses won’t hold up in 2024.
Behind Thorne, Auburn has some talent, including Hank “Baby Goat” Brown and Holden Geriner, who both backed up Thorne last season. Four-star freshman Walker White also joins the mix. Brown, a three-star recruit from Lipscomb Academy, has impressed enough to secure the No. 2 spot. Geriner, a four-star recruit from the class of 2022, was highly regarded by both On3 and 247.
While the new recruits at quarterback might not immediately impact Coleman or Thompson, Auburn is actively pursuing top talent for the future, including Notre Dame commit Deuce Knight and USC commit Julian “Juju” Lewis for 2025.
For Auburn to end its 1,000-yard receiver drought, it will need better quarterback play than it had in 2023. If anyone’s going to break the streak, Coleman and Thompson are the best bets. My prediction is that Coleman will challenge the 1,000-yard mark this year, and if not this season, he’ll get there eventually. I also believe Thompson will have a 1,000-yard season before his time at Auburn is over.
After a 23-year drought, Auburn fans can expect multiple 1,000-yard receiving seasons in the next four years.
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