The 2024 season may not have gone the way head coach Hugh Freeze and his Auburn football team had envisioned, but the Tigers had many standout performers, particularly from the underclassmen on the roster, who gave Tiger fans hope for the future of the program.

Two of those standout athletes, freshmen Cam Coleman and Jay Crawford, earned spots on On3 columnist Chad Power’s 2024 True Freshman All-American Team. Coleman was one of three wide receivers on the team, sharing the honor with Alabama’s Ryan Williams and Offensive True Freshman Player of the Year, Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith. A trio of cornerbacks were also named to the team as Oklahoma’s Eli Bowden and Miami’s OJ Frederique Jr. received the honor alongside Crawford.

Both rookies came to the Plains in 2024 with high expectations. Coleman, who got off to a slow start to the season due to injuries and a revolving door in the quarterback room, scored six touchdowns in the Tigers’ final three games. His 598 receiving yards ranked in the top three all-time among Auburn freshmen, while his 8 touchdowns were tied for the team lead with senior KeAndre Lambert-Smith.

Crawford, who came to the Plains as a three-star prospect, also had a fantastic season. After playing only a few snaps in the first month of the year, Crawford became a key part of the Auburn secondary, which improved each week of the season. The Lilburn, Georgia native finished his year leading the team in passes defended (7), while also recording an interception and 15 total tackles.

While the two freshmen didn’t do enough to help the Tigers qualify for a bowl game, their contributions will certainly make them key players in the program going forward. With a top-six recruiting class for 2025 and numerous transfer portal players on the way, the Tigers appear to be in solid position heading into 2025.

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