Whenever a new college football year approaches, fans and people within the sport usually have high expectations for what the Auburn football team can accomplish this upcoming season. Tigers head coach Hugh Freeze spoke to the media after the first practice of fall camp for the team and touched on what the two keys are for this season which involve the wide receivers and defensive backs according to Ainslie Lee of AL.com
“If you had asked me what the key to this season will be, I really think it will be: How well do our young DBs and young receivers play?,” Freeze said Thursday.
While the goal is to always improve after every season, Freeze has no inkling in wanting to remember anything that happened in 2023 as it was a disappointing one. In Freeze's first year with the Auburn football team, they went 6-7 on the season along with a 3-5 record in conference play, ending the season on a three game losing streak.
“Well, I don’t want to talk about last year anymore, truthfully ‚” Freeze said when he was asked about reflecting on the season prior.
Freeze looks at Auburn football's wide receiver room
The team did some major work to the wide receiver and defensive back rooms as there is no wonder Freeze looks to those groups as being the keys to this upcoming season. While there is some experience on the roster, they are four freshman pass catchers that are looking to make a name for themselves like Cam Coleman, Perry Thompson, Malcolm Simmons, and Bryce Cain where Freeze highlighted the first two saying that “they look the part.”
“I’m thrilled. They look the part. That’s what an SEC receiver should look like,” Freeze said. “There’s no question they’re talented. I’m careful not to put too much expectations on them in Year 1, but it wouldn’t surprise me if they contributed in a big way.”
A young secondary for the Auburn football team for 2024
As for the defensive backs in the secondary, the Tigers are looking to replace four starters from last season with more young talent along with players that have been with the program or have some experience like Keionte Scott and even transfer from Texas Jerrin Thompson. Subsequently, both players were mentioned by Freeze has being huge to lead the secondary.
“Jerrin Thompson has some experience and leadership back there,” Freeze said. “Keionte [Scott] has to lead and stay healthy.”
There is a pretty big drop in terms of experience and age for the defensive group as Freeze lists the players that are looking to be productive for the Tigers heading into the 2024 season.
“Then you’ve got Antonio Kite and (JC Hart) and (Jay) Crawford,” Freeze said via AL.com. “These are young, young kids who haven’t played very much football. And they’re going to have to play.”
“I think how well they do and those receivers do will be a big part of the story,” Freeze continued.
At any rate, the Auburn football team's success could very well rely on the performances from those two specific groups as Freeze echoes the same sentiments. Consequently, they will have a whole fall camp to prepare for the first game of the season which is against Alabama A&M on August 31.
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