Cam Coleman Flip To Auburn Is Program Changing

Cam Coleman Flip To Auburn Is Program Changing

December 3, 2023 Skye Underwood By
Auburn wide receiver coach Marcus Davis and new Auburn five-star wide receiver commit Cam Coleman

The phrase ‘unprecedented’ can rarely be used when talking recruiting, unless you’re referring to Hugh Freeze’s type of recruiting. The first-year Auburn head coach is doing things that’s never been done before on the recruiting trail which leads to the Loveliest Village on the Plains. Things like flipping the Texas A&M commitment of the crown jewel of the 2024 Auburn recruiting class in Central-Phenix City five-star wide receiver Cam Coleman, who On3 ranks as the No. 5 overall recruit in the country regardless of position.

Coleman is the highest-rated offensive recruit in Auburn history, or the modern history of recruiting rankings with a 0.9962 composite rating by 247 Sports. The 6-foot-3, 185-pounder is the No. 3 overall recruit in Auburn history behind defenders Derrick Brown and Byron Cowart, respectively.

On3 Auburn Live’s senior recruiting editor Jeffrey Lee believes, “Coleman will be an immediate impact player as a freshman. His addition really changes the passing game trajectory under Hugh Freeze.”

247 Sports Auburn Undercover senior analyst Jason Caldwell mentioned on their podcast that he recently visited with Coleman’s high school coach Pat Nix who said he was coaching at Georgia Tech the same time (College Football & Pro Football Hall of Fame wide receiver) Calvin Johnson was there and Nix told Caldwell, “‘Cam Coleman is a similar kind of guy to Calvin Johnson.’”

“I think when you look at the comparisons of him (Coleman) for me,” Caldwell said, “I think about a guy that potentially looks like AJ Greene; that long athletic body that can go up and get the ball. He (Coleman) probably attacks the football as well as anybody I can remember at the wide receiver position. When you start talking about bringing in a guy with that talent; that length for a wide receiver group that hasn’t had that type of guy in a long, long time, it’s hard to put an emphasis on how important this one is for Auburn in terms of just adding a really talented wide receiver, but also getting back in Phenix City; that’s a place Auburn’s tried to get to for a long, long time. And you get one of the best ones in Cam Coleman, so it’s an absolute monster day and a monster get for Auburn,” Caldwell summarized.

With Coleman’s addition, Auburn’s class jumped from No. 17 to No. 11 in the recruiting rankings on 247 and On3. Rivals ranks the Tigers’ 2024 recruiting class at No. 10 after the Coleman flip. The Tigers’ class currently ranks top-5 nationally in average star ranking on 247.

While we’re all trying to catch our breath from Coleman’s Merry Flipmas, there’s even more excitement resonating throughout the Plains as Auburn sits at 19 commitments and counting with Early Signing Day fast approaching on December 20th. The Tigers could add another six high school players by the time National Signing Day rolls around on February 7th.

But for now it’s time to celebrate one of the biggest recruiting wins in Auburn Football history with the Coleman news. The five-star flip joins an Auburn wide receiver class of fellow five-star flip Perry Thompson, four-star Bryce Cain, and four-star Malcolm Simmons to round out the best Auburn wide receiver class in program history.

There’s even whispers that there’s even more good news and talent on the way to Auburn’s wide receiver room and more specifically the 2024 Auburn wide receiver class.

2025 five-star wide receiver Ryan Williams from Saraland, Ala. is currently committed to Alabama, but there’s been recent breaking news that he’s got a big announcement to make that’s just days away.

Auburn fans are speculating that Williams will reclassify from the 2025 class to the 2024 class and flip from Bama to Auburn to form the “Freeze Fab Five,” arguably the greatest wide receiver recruiting class in college football history with five total signees including three five-stars and two four-stars.

Is RBU evolving into WRU under Freeze? Move over Ohio State, there’s a new sheriff in town.

But even if Williams sticks with his Bama commitment, Auburn has still done a masterful job with the 2024 class and now the 2025 class, too. The Tigers recently picked up a commitment from a 6-foot-4, 330-pound four-star defensive lineman Kalen Edwards out of Tennessee for their 2025 class and a commitment from offensive lineman Kail Ellis out of Georgia for their 2026 class, so it’s evident how much emphasis is being placed on recruiting at Auburn under the new regime.

Freeze and staff don’t just use lip service to talk about the importance of recruiting, but rather old fashioned hard work is at play from pounding the pavement, shaking hands, kissing babies, building relationships and traveling to all the high schools along the way to form a strong presence in Auburn’s recruiting footprint.

Auburn may have lost the battle that was the 2023 Iron Bowl, but if recruiting is any indication the Tigers certainly haven’t lost the war.

And as silly as it might sound, Auburn’s Iron Bowl loss to Bama was still a win when it comes to providing proof of concept to highly-rated recruits in attendance. That’s called being able to see the forest through the trees. The big picture. Those recruits not only needed to see Freeze’s vision for the overall trajectory of the Auburn program, but they especially needed to be able to see themselves as the difference maker who’s going to help propel Auburn to win those close games in the future.

Coleman’s flip all but solidified the Tigers accomplished exactly what needed to be accomplished in the Iron Bowl even if the score of this year’s game didn’t reflect it, future Iron Bowls certainly will.

CategoryAuburn Football Auburn Tigers Auburn Tigers Football Football Hugh Freeze Iron Bowl SEC Football Top Posts
TagsAuburn Auburn Football Auburn Football Recruiting Auburn Recruiting Auburn Tigers Auburn Tigers Football Cam Coleman CFB Recruiting Freeze Fab Five Freeze Five Hugh Freeze Perry Thompson Ryan Williams War Damn Eagle War Eagle