Ranking Auburn football's top 5 freshmen this season
2024 has been a disappointing year for Auburn football in the win/loss column. At 4-6, the Tigers are unlikely to make a bowl game, with upcoming games against Texas A&M and Alabama making bowl-eligiblity look close to impossible.
Despite their record, the Tigers’ future looks bright, as Coach Hugh Freeze’s first full recruiting class has lived up to its top-10 ranking.
Let’s take a look at the brightest stars of Auburn’s 2024 freshman class.
No. 5: Malcolm Simmons, WR (Alexander City, AL)
A hard decision had to be made to put Simmons here above WR Cam Coleman, but before the ULM game, there was no doubt who was having the better freshman season. For now, Simmons takes this spot.
Malcolm, a summer enrollee, didn’t take long to burst onto the scene at Auburn. Whispers about his explosiveness during fall camp were confirmed in his debut against Alabama A&M, where he caught three passes for 91 yards and a touchdown. Through 10 games, per ESPN, he has three touchdowns on 34 receptions for 412 yards, which ranks second among SEC freshmen.
His shiftiness and ability to create yards after the catch are traits that Auburn fans can look forward to enjoying for years to come.
No. 4: Demarcus Riddick, LB (Clanton, AL)
Demarcus Riddick has slowly moved up the depth chart this season, and for good reason. The six-foot-two, 217-pound linebacker possesses a trait you can’t teach: speed.
The freshman has carved out a role as a quarterback spy. Wherever your QB runs, Demarcus is flying toward him in pursuit. Through 10 games this season, he has racked up 22 total tackles, 15 solo tackles, and two sacks, per ESPN.
This twitchy freshman is loaded with upside and will be a name you hear often, not only this season but for years to come.
No. 3: Malik Blocton, DL (Pike Road, AL)
The younger brother of former Auburn defensive lineman Marcus Harris, Blocton is picking up right where his brother left off as a force on the D-line. The freshman, standing at six-foot-three and 291 pounds, has been an immediate contributor to the defensive line rotation. This wasn’t necessarily expected from the three-star recruit coming out of high school, as most viewed him as more of a developmental player.
So far this season, Blocton has 12 total tackles, 10 solo tackles, and 1.5 sacks, per ESPN. At the midway point of the season, On3 listed Blocton as one of their True Freshman All-Americans.
As he continues to develop and get stronger, you can expect to hear his name called more and more. This is the SEC, and having a strong rotation of big, physical defensive linemen is absolutely critical. Blocton looks poised to be a starter for years to come for the Tigers.
No. 2: Kaleb Harris, S (Alabaster, AL)
Much like Blocton, the expectations for Kaleb Harris to contribute right away were not high. Also like Blocton, that didn’t stop Harris from proving his three-star ranking wrong. In all seriousness, Harris could have been No. 1 on this list, but he takes the No. 2 spot for now.
The six-foot-one, 201-pound freshman has been stellar. According to Pro Football Focus, Harris had the most tackles without a miss in the entire country through nine games, totaling 30 tackles.
At the midway point of the season, he was also named to On3’s True Freshman All-American team.
Harris has proven to be a budding star in his first year on the Plains, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him collect more accolades in the future.
No. 1: Jay Crawford, CB (Lilburn, GA)
Crawford didn’t begin the season as a starter, but he will most certainly finish it as one. The cornerback position has struggled at times this year for Auburn, and his emergence as a lockdown corner couldn’t have been more needed.
The five-foot-11, 179-pound freshman has given the secondary new life, snagging his first career interception against Kentucky. According to Pro Football Focus, Crawford led all true freshmen in passes defended, with nine, going into the ULM game. He also ranked third in the entire country—regardless of class—in fewest yards allowed in coverage, surrendering just 67 yards.
This is only the beginning for Crawford, and Auburn fans hope that his best is still yet to come. For now, they can be satisfied with their true freshman corner being one of the best players in the country at his position.