Hugh Freeze recalls the process of flipping Cam Coleman
On the recruiting trail, everybody loves a good flip, that is unless you’re the wrong end of it. Auburn most certainly was on the right side of a big one this month as the Tigers turned WR Cam Coleman, a five-star plus prospect and a top player in the nation, from Texas A&M to The Plains.
This was a major deal for Hugh Freeze with Coleman coming as the crown jewel of the Top-10 class for Auburn from National Signing Day. It was well worth the effort too as Freeze detailed all that went into getting the stud receiver.
“It was a long process for sure and one we refused to give up on,” said Freeze on the SEC Network on Wednesday.
In Freeze’s first season with the Tigers, they were heavier in the run game on offense. All in all, they dealt lackluster pass production for most of the time. That’s where a recruit like Coleman comes in as he gives them a weapon that’ll completely reset that position group.
Coleman is also a product that Freeze compares well to some other high-quality targets that he has had.
“He’s just the type of talent that I think for us and our need right now? It’s obvious we can run the football this year. But we’re needing to revamp the receiver room a bit, particularly with size and length,” Freeze explained.
“Cam tracks the ball as well as any I’ve seen,” said Freeze. “I’m reminded of when we took over at Ole Miss and tried to turn that program. That first full class we had? I was able to sign a guy by the name of Laquon Treadwell that really transformed what we could do offensively. I see Cam in that same light.”
Coleman played high school football at Central (AL) as the No. 1 player out of Alabama in the class. He is the No. 4 overall recruit in the 2024 cycle and the No. 2 WR behind only Jeremiah Smith. That’s according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.
Coleman committed to the Aggies back on the Fourth of July this year. Still, amidst continued visits and interest nationwide, Auburn hung around and really started to earn buzz in November. Then, come December 1st, the Tigers got an early Christmas gift by sealing the deal on a flip from Coleman. They solidified that on NSD yesterday when he officially put pen to paper to come play for Freeze.
He will now pair up with Perry Thompson, another five-star receiver, as the top recruits in Auburn’s current class of 21 signees.
This was a recruitment that Auburn stayed active in and it paid off in a significant way. Now, from here, getting Coleman on campus and ready to produce early is something that could make a real difference for the team’s pass attack in the near future.