Two freshman wide receivers that could break Auburn's shocking drought

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 correct. That's right, Auburn hasn't had a receiver with 1,000 receiving yards in a season since the turn of the century. That's hard to believe when they've had receivers like Sammie Coates (topped out at 902 yards in 2013) and Seth Williams (most was 830 in 2019) since then.

Heck, they had a Heisman Trophy winning Quarterback in that time-frame (Darvin Adams actually did come close that season with 963 receiving yards, plus he came super close with 997 yards in 2009).

While the last few seasons have not given Auburn fans much to cheer for at the receiver position, there is hope there now. Hugh Freeze and the Tigers completely re-made their receiver core this off-season. They brought in Penn State transfer KeAndre Lambert-Smith, Cal transfer Sam Jackson V, and Georgia State transfer Robert Lewis to be some immediate help at the position.

However, arguably the two biggest names added at the position were out of the High School ranks in Five-star Cam Coleman and highly-touted four-star Perry Thompson. Auburn also added two other four-star receivers out of High School in Malcolm Simmons and Bryce Cain.

Cam Coleman was a consensus top 10 player in the 2024 class out of Central High School in Phenix City, Alabama (the school that produced former Clemson star and current Kansas City Chief Justyn Ross, as well as numerous other Power-5 receivers in recent years) where he played for Auburn legend Patrick Nix. Landing Coleman (who is viewed as the top player in the state of Alabama by both On3 and 247), was a major recruiting win.

Most people view Coleman as a Day one contributor who can make an immediate impact out of the gate as a starter as Freshman. He has quality size (6'3, 190) to go along with a ready-to-play skill-set. He can make highlight-reel catches to go along with 4.4 speed.

Perry Thompson was a consensus top 100 recruit in the class of 2024 out of Foley High School (the High School that produced one of the greatest WR recruits ever and Alabama star Julio Jones) in Foley, Alabama (near Mobile). 247 ranks him as high as the #38 overall player in the class. Thompson also has ideal size at 6'3, 205. Thompson ran track for Foley HS and also has clocked in in the 4.4's in the 40-yard dash.

Thompson is viewed a bit more as a major year two and year three contributor, but he will likely see the field a good bit as a Freshman.

In Auburn's week one domination of FCS Alabama A&M, Perry Thompson had two catches, 82 yards, and one TD. Coleman had two catches, 62 yards, and one touchdown. Both players' touchdowns were both long touchdowns(Thompson's was 70 yards and Coleman's was 44).

Now, the question at play here is whether either Cam Coleman or Perry Thompson can break Auburn's drought and be a 1,000 yard receiver.

Now, part of this will come down to Quarterback play. Auburn returns Payton Thorne as their starter for 2024. It was a mixed bag for Thorne as a starter in 2023. He flashed some, but overall it was just an ok season (61.1% completion percentage, 1,755 passing yards, 16 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions).

Auburn fans will tell you that it was because of the poor receiver play paired with inconsistent Offensive Line play. That excuse won't be viable in 2024 however, with Auburn bringing in the seven new talented receivers.

Beyond 2024 for Auburn, the Tigers do have some talent behind Thorne. Hank "baby goat" Brown and Holden Geriner return after backing up Thorne a season ago. Auburn also brought in four-star Freshman Walker White as well.

Brown as a three-star recruit in the class of 2023 out of Lipscomb Academy in Nashville. While he was not a highly-touted recruit, he has flashed and has a lot of Auburn fans excited as he has seemingly locked down the #2 spot behind Thorne. Geriner was a four-star recruit in the class of 2022 out of Benedictine Military School in Savannah, Ga. 247 (#242 overall) and On3 (#244 overall) both had Geriner pegged in the same area of the 2022 class.

White ranks as a top-100 recruit and a top-6 QB in the class of 2024 according to both On3 and 247.

While it might not have much affect on Coleman or Thompson soon (maybe for their Junior or Senior seasons), Auburn is also working hard to flip Deuce Knight (Notre Dame commit) and has been connected to Julian "Juju" Lewis (USC commit) in the 2025 class.

Nevertheless, if Coleman or Thompson is going to get there then Auburn will have to have better quarterback play than they did in 2023.

With all of that being said, I think that if Auburn's 1,000 yard receiver drought is going to come to an end soon, it will be either Coleman that Thompson that does it. My prediction is that Coleman will push the 1,000 mark this year, and whether he gets it this year or not that he will eventually get there at some point. I also believe that Thompson will have a 1,000 yard season before his career on the plains comes to an end as well.

After not having one for 23 years, I believe Auburn will have multiple 1,000 yard receiving seasons in the next four years.