Auburn spring football preview: Wide Receivers
Spring practice is underway at Auburn, and it's time to preview another position group ahead of A-Day, which will take place on Saturday, April 12, at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
The next position group that we will examine in our spring breakdown series is the wide receiver room, which is arguably the deepest unit on a suddenly loaded Auburn roster. Although the Tigers lost the production of 2024 leading-receiver KeAndre Lambert Smith (984 yards), the second and third most productive pass catchers from a season ago, Cam Coleman and Malcolm Simmons, are set to return in a much bigger role in 2025. The freshman duo combined for 11 touchdowns and just over 1,000 receiving yards a year ago, making the sensational sophomores breakout candidates this upcoming fall.
Coleman and Simmons will be joined by incumbent former five-star Perry Thompson along with transfers Eric Singleton Jr (Georgia Tech) and Haratio Fields (Wake Forest) to make up a very deep and talented pass catching core. Singleton Jr., who accumulated nearly 1,500 yards during his two seasons with the Yellow Jackets, is the most likely newcomer to make an impact right away.
Head coach Hugh Freeze wasn't shy about the ceiling he sees in his group of wide receivers. Speaking with the media, the third year head coach reporters, 'It's one of the more talented rooms I've ever been associated with. Somebody asked me the other day how I would rank that room versus DK Metcalf, AJ Brown, Van Jefferson, Evan Engram … I think it's a bit early for me to put all of that [pressure] on them, but it rivals it. It's close.
Here is a look at what the Auburn wide receiver room looks like as spring practice continues on the Plains.
No. 1 Eric Singleton Jr.
2024 Stats: 12 games played, 56 receptions, 754 yards, 4 total touchdowns (1 rushing)
12 games played, 56 receptions, 754 yards, 4 total touchdowns (1 rushing) Career Stats: 24 games played, 104 receptions, 1468 yards, 7 total touchdowns (1 rushing)
Eric Singleton Jr. comes to the Plains after a very successful two-year stint with Georgia Tech. A speed demon who can find success in the slot or on the outside, the junior should have no trouble filling the void left by KeAndre Lambert-Smith in the Auburn passing game. In two career games against Georgia, the Douglasville, GA native has caught 12 passes for 182 yards and a touchdown.
No. 3 Perry Thompson
2024 Stats: 4 games played, 5 receptions, 126 yards, 1 TD
Perry Thompson came to Auburn with high expectations in 2024. Although the true freshman did not have the impact many expected, he did show flashes of brilliance in limited snaps throughout the season. Standing at 6-foot-3, 222-pounds, Thompson is a major candidate to take a leap in his second season this fall.
No. 4 Malcolm Simmons
2024 Stats: 12 games played, 40 receptions, 451 yards, 4 total touchdowns (1 special teams)
Malcolm Simmons turned into the surprise star of Auburn's offense in 2024. While the Montgomery, AL native never dominated contests, his presence as both a gadget weapon and special teams star led to plenty of playing time as a true freshman. Now in his second year in Hugh Freeze's scheme, Simmons should be more of a mainstay on the field in traditional formations.
No. 5 Horatio Fields
2024 Stats: 10 games played, 39 receptions, 463 yards, 4 TD
10 games played, 39 receptions, 463 yards, 4 TD Career Stats: 12 games played, 44 receptions, 514 yards, 4 TD
Fields joins the Auburn receiving core after somewhat of a breakout second season at Wake Forest. He collected nearly 500 yards with the Demon Deacons a season ago, while securing one of his best games against the season (3 catches, 48 yards, 1 touchdown) against 2024 College Football Playoff program Clemson. He'll likely compete with Perry Thompson and Malcolm Simmons for the No. 3 receiver role in 2025.
No. 6 Bryce Cain
2024 Stats: 1 game played, 2 receptions, 33 yards, 0 TD
Cain was somewhat of the forgotten man in a loaded 2024 wide receiver class which featured the likes of Cam Coleman, Malcolm Simmons, and Perry Thompson. Still, the former four-star recruit made his mark in Auburn's season opener against Alabama A&M before taking redshirting the remainder of his true freshman season. The Mobile, AL native likely won't see an increased role in 2025.
No. 8 Cam Coleman
2024 stats: 10 games played, 37 receptions, 598 yards, 8 touchdowns
After injuries and growing pains stalled the start to his true freshman season, Cam Coleman became the second best player for Auburn's offense down the stretch in 2024. The five-star recruit scored 6 of his team-leading 8 receiving touchdowns over the final three games of the Tigers' season, accumulating over 100 yards per game during that stretch as well. The sophomore will likely be the favorite target of either Jackson Arnold or Deuce Knight in 2025.
No. 18 Sam Turner
2024 recruiting ranking (247Sports): 3-star WR, No. 75 WR, No. 67 recruit from Georgia
Turner comes to Auburn after setting the Southwest DeKalb High School record for career receiving touchdowns. The 6-foot-1 pass catcher hauled in 17 touchdowns across 61 receptions as a senior, and accumulated over 2,000 yards across his final two high school campaigns.
No. 80 Will Upton
2024 stats: 1 game played, 0 catches, 0 yards, 0 TD
A walk on wide receiver, Will Upton saw his only game action last season in the opener against Alabama A&M. The Jackson, Mississippi native also served as the backup holder, and has earned SEC academic honor roll honors during both of his seasons as a Tiger.
No. 85 Cam'Ron King
2024 stats: 1 game played, 0 catches, 0 yards, 0 TD
Like Upton, King only saw action against Alabama A&M in 2024. While the redshirt freshman is unlikely to see more playing time in 2025, he could end up pacing the receiving room in weight room, after competing as a competitive weight lifter during his time in high school.
No. 89 Dylan Gentry
2024 stats: 1 game played, 0 catches, 0 yards, 0 TD
Gentry saw action against Alabama A&M last season, but failed to record a stat. The Phenix City, Alabama native was a high school teammate of Cam Coleman on the 7A State Championship Central High Red Devils.
Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Brian on Twitter@TheRealBHauch
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