As Valentine's Day nears, love is in the air in Austin, Texas, for Auburn University Athletic Director John Cohen, because he started the domino effect that would ultimately land receiver Cam Coleman on the Longhorns as Arch Manning's new deep threat in the passing game.
The Austin American-Statesman's David Eckert believes Cohen deserves flowers from Texas fans for firing Hugh Freeze back in November and allowing Coleman to hit the transfer portal and ultimately end up in the Lone Star State.
Eckert correctly acknowledged that there was a chance Freeze could've stayed on the Plains and Coleman still would've left in search of a better chance to shine, since AU was apparently willing to pay him whatever it took to stay.
"Look, maybe Auburn wide receiver Cam Coleman would have entered the transfer portal even if the Tigers had given coach Hugh Freeze a fourth season to rectify his disastrous three-year tenure on the Plains. But firings blow up rosters — and Cohen’s decision to move on from Freeze gave the Longhorns the opportunity they needed to land one of the most talented receivers in the SEC," Eckert wrote.
"A former five-star prospect, the 6-foot-3, 201-pound Coleman caught 56 passes for 708 yards and five touchdowns during the 2025 season. He’ll compete with Ryan Wingo to be the top target for Arch Manning in 2026. A rose with a nice thank-you note attached is in order."
Auburn and Texas both better off for Cam Coleman leaving Tigers
While there is a bit of a sardonic energy in thanking Auburn's AD for mismanaging a top prospect and letting him walk, the truth is that both the Tigers and Longhorns are better off for Coleman moving on from East Central Alabama. Staying at home limited Coleman's ambition, and he didn't practice hard or leave his comfort zone.
Entering a market with high expectations and living in a city where he'll no longer be recognized, Coleman is doing just that. If it works out, Auburn fans will have gotten to say he started at Phenix City, got to wear the Orange and Blue, and is now living out in his dreams for one of the biggest brands in football. If not, nothing of true, irreplaceable value was lost.
A win for Coleman, a win for Texas, and a win for the Loveliest Village, since Coleman's several-million dollar contract was likely more wisely spent elsewhere on the roster.