There’s just one day left before the long-desired kickoff between Auburn and Baylor at McLane Stadium.
It’s one the Auburn faithful is eagerly awaiting not only because it’s the first game of the season, but because their beloved Tigers are set to field a much more talented team heading into Year 3 of the Hugh Freeze era.
“I’ve been around enough to know when you have enough talent to win games, and we do, and we’re not going to run from that. We’re excited about it, and now we have got to go prove that,” Freeze said.
And the position group that may just boast the most talent, and will certainly make it a point to prove just that, is the wide receivers.
Here’s how they can set the tone for the Tigers on Friday:
Star-studded Coleman
Yes, Cam Coleman gets a section just for himself.
The Preseason Second Team All-America pick – and highest-rated offensive recruit in program history – has certainly made his case for being one of the best wide receivers in the SEC heading into 2025. He led the country with six touchdowns over the last three weeks of the season and was sixth with 306 receiving yards as a freshman last year.
Not only that, but he’s been in the lab all offseason, refining his technique, working on his hands and metal game. Oh, and he’s gotten bigger, faster and stronger.
“I’ve definitely gotten bigger, a little faster and I’m a little stronger than last year,” Coleman told reporters at the start of camp. “I know the playbook more, so I can play faster.”
Few defenders will have an answer for Coleman, simply because of his size and skill. He’s a nightmare matchup wherever he’s lined up. And for Auburn, having a receiver of that caliber, that can draw double teams, is a gift – especially for a quarterback in Jackson Arnold, who’s trying to rebound from a rocky 2024 campaign at Oklahoma – because it creates space for every other top-notch receiver to thrive.
Whether his numbers reflect it or not, Coleman’s impact is insurmountable. And you can expect that to show on Friday night.
Speaking of other receivers
You can’t forget about everyone else, right? No.
Auburn signed the No. 1 wide receiver in the transfer portal, per 247Sports, in Eric Singleton Jr. from Georgia Tech. The speedy wideout’s 1,468 receiving yards across his two years with the Yellow Jackets are the second most among returning Power Four receivers, according to PFF. Additionally, his 664 receiving yards on deep balls since 2023 lead all returning Power Four receivers.
Not to mention the trio of Horatio Fields – who Freeze raved about being the leader of the room – Perry Thompson and Malcom Simmons. All three are capable of taking the top off the defense and provide Arnold with some valuable targets in addition to Coleman and Singleton.
However, Freeze mentioned on Wednesday that Singleton is not 100% healthy, but that he will play.
Nonetheless, the advantage on the outside goes to Auburn in this one.
Baylor pass defense an issue?
Although their head coach is a defensive mastermind – Dave Aranda led the LSU defense in 2019 as the Tigers marched their way to the National Title – the Bears took a step back on the defensive side of the ball last season. They finished 81st in scoring defense and 87th in total defense.
Baylor gave up a lot of explosive plays last year and allowed 246.3 yards per game through the air. It only returns six starters, with one of those being safety Carl Williams IV.
However, Aranda noted earlier in camp that Williams was unlikely to play due to a lingering injury.
With Baylor’s weakness on defense coming on the backend, and Auburn’s strength on offense coming at the wide receiver position, it sets up perfectly for the Tigers to make some noise through the air.
