Every college football season tells its own tale.
Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze, however, is eager to move on from last year’s narrative.
“I don’t want to talk about last year anymore, honestly,” Freeze confessed when asked to reflect on the past season Thursday morning, just before Auburn’s first fall camp practice.
Instead, Freeze and the Auburn Tigers are focusing on crafting a new chapter for the 2024 season.
The Tigers took their first steps into the new season with their initial fall camp practice on Thursday.
While many elements will influence Auburn’s story this fall, Freeze identifies two key components he believes will define the season.
“If you asked me what the key to this season will be, I’d say it depends on how well our young defensive backs and receivers perform,” Freeze stated before practice on Thursday.
The Auburn coaching staff has overhauled several positions this offseason, with significant changes in the wide receiver and defensive back positions.
The revamped wide receiver group has generated a lot of buzz.
The changes are highlighted by a trio of experienced transfers and a group of talented freshmen.
Auburn will rely heavily on the experience of transfers like KeAndre Lambert-Smith from Penn State, Robert Lewis from Georgia State, and Sam Jackson V from Cal, alongside returning players in the wide receiver room.
However, Freeze acknowledges the importance of contributions from the rookie receivers.
Luckily, he feels optimistic about their potential.
“I’m thrilled. They look the part. That’s what an SEC receiver should look like,” Freeze remarked about freshman receivers Cam Coleman and Perry Thompson, who join fellow freshmen Malcolm Simmons and Bryce Cain as Auburn’s incoming talent.
“They’re undoubtedly talented. While I don’t want to set high expectations for them in Year 1, it wouldn’t be surprising if they made a significant impact.”
The situation is similar for Auburn’s secondary, which needs to replace four starters from last year’s team.
The defensive backs unit will lean on veterans like senior Keionte Scott and fifth-year Texas transfer Jerrin Thompson.
“Jerrin Thompson brings experience and leadership back there,” Freeze said. “Keionte has to lead and stay healthy.”
Auburn also has sophomore Kayin Lee returning, who gained valuable experience as a true freshman last fall and is expected to start at one of the cornerback positions.
Junior Champ Anthony, who played in every game last season, also brings experience to the table.
Beyond these players, there’s a noticeable gap in experience, particularly after the summer ACL injury of Tyler Scott.
“Then you’ve got Antonio Kite, (JC Hart), and (Jay) Crawford,” Freeze noted, listing Auburn’s young defensive backs. “These are young players who haven’t played much football. They’ll need to step up.”
Auburn added sophomore Alabama transfer Antonio Kite in January, providing the Tigers with a young player who has some SEC experience.
Though Kite played in nine games for Alabama during the 2022 and 2023 seasons, his primary role was on special teams, leaving him relatively untested as a defensive back in the SEC.
The Tigers also brought in JUCO safety transfer Laquan Robinson, senior Northwestern State safety transfer Antwon Fegans Jr., and Colorado safety transfer Jahquez Robinson. While this trio has college football experience, they lack SEC exposure.
Meanwhile, Hart and Sylvester Smith return in 2024 as redshirt freshmen, having played in four games last fall.
Behind them, a group of rookies, including Crawford, Kaleb Harris, A’Mon Lane-Ganus, and Kensley Louidor-Faustin, are preparing for their first college football season.
Despite the challenges, as Freeze pointed out, some of these younger players will need to step up quickly to provide quality depth for Auburn’s secondary.
“I think how well they do and how those receivers perform will be a big part of the story,” Freeze concluded.
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