Hugh Freeze has always done well recruiting receivers. While with the Ole Miss Rebels, he unearthed D.K. Metcalf, Cody Core, Laquon Treadwell, AJ Brown, and Evan Engram at the position, and his work as the Auburn Tigers' football coach has been encouraging, to say the least.
KeAndre Lambert-Smith was a transfer portal home run last year, while Eric Singleton Jr. and Horatio Fields both offer the chance to make a similar impact for transfer signal-caller Jackson Arnold. This is all without yet mentioning Sam Turner from this year's high school class, then Cam Coleman and Malcolm Simmons from last year's.
Needless to say, the reputation AU has locally hasn't translated nationally, with the Tigers playing themselves into Kentucky/Mississippi State/Vanderbilt levels of irrelevance to the casual fan since the back end of the 2021 season
Yellowhammer News's Michael Brauner took it a step further -- claiming Freeze's receiving corps is among the most disrespected in the country.
"Led by rising sophomore Cam Coleman who is looking to establish himself as a household name after a big freshman year, this is a room which is not getting the respect it deserves nationally," Brauner wrote.
"Malcolm Simmons quietly had a phenomenal freshman campaign of his own and is looking to take another step this year, as is fellow rising sophomore Perry Thompson after he was quiet for most of his first season.
"The best player in the room however might just be a new face in Georgia Tech transfer Eric Singleton Jr., who was one of the most sought after players in the entire transfer portal.
"Adding a speedy element of electricity to compliment Coleman’s sheer physical domination of opposing cornerbacks, it could be the perfect combination of smash and sizzle on The Plains.
"Horatio Fields — a fellow transfer from Wake Forest — has generated some noise in the spring and it seems Auburn is excited about him as well, but few players are getting more hype right now than Singleton."
The talent is there, but Auburn's receiving corps won't receive respect until the team does better than 6-6 in 2025.