Heat on Freeze forecasted to cool as Auburn readies for 2025 campaign
Rising heat on a Freeze can lead to a meltdown.
Frankly, the high hopes for Auburn football borne from the hiring of coach Hugh Freeze may be starting to melt after back-to-back losing seasons.
However, the forecast for the upcoming 2025 predicts that the heat on Freeze will cool substantially. The Tigers are expected to rebound from last season’s 5-7 debacle. At the very least, bowl eligibility is expected.
“Our roster looks better, and there's a lot of games that you point to last year that could have gone the other way, in our favor,” Freeze said last month. “That’s a reasonable expectation that none of us should run from, is for some of those (to) start going our way.”
To Freeze’s point, three of Auburn’s losses in 2024 were by a touchdown or less (21-14 to Cal, 27-21 to Oklahoma and 21-17 to Missouri).
Note that Auburn scored 21 points or less in all three losses. Indeed, the Tigers averaged just 12.4 points in their seven losses. They did not score more than 21 points in a loss.
Clearly, an upgraded offense could make a big difference. The hope on The Plains is that transfer quarterback Jackson Arnold will provide that upgrade.
Once a five-star recruit, Arnold struggled last season as Oklahoma’s starting quarterback. He passed for just over 1,400 yards and 12 touchdowns.
But he had subpar receivers and was behind an offensive line that allowed an SEC-high 50 sacks.
He figures to get better protection. He’ll definitely have better receivers. In fact, Auburn has a stellar group of receivers led by rising sophomore Cam Coleman and Georgia Tech transfer Eric Singleton Jr.
Consequently, scoring points may not be as big an issue as it was in 2024.
However, the Tigers' defense, which allowed a respectable 21.3 points per game last season, must replace six starters. The last includes linebackers Jalen McLeod, last year’s leader in sacks, and Dorian Mausi, last year’s leader in tackles.
Still, with returning defensive end Keldric Faulk, cornerback Kayin Lee and an influx of help from the transfer portal, the defense figures to be sound.
An improved offense should be adequate for the Tigers to keep Freeze off the hot seat.
Auburn Tigers
2024 record: 5-7, 2-6 in the SEC
Primary area of strength: The Tigers' receivers room might be the best in the Southeastern Conference. Sophomore Cam Coleman should contend for all-conference honors. Sophomore Malcolm Simmons is coming off a solid freshman year, too. Transfer Eric Singleton Jr. is a big-play threat who led Georgia Tech in receiving a year ago.
Primary area of concern: The Tigers are looking to a combination of freshmen, transfers and inexperienced players to replace the production of departed linebackers Dorian Mausi, Eugene Asante and Jalen McLeod. That’s three of the top four leaders in tackling last season. LSU transfers Xavier Atkins and Maryland transfer Caleb Wheatland could help, but neither was overly productive last season. Hopes are high that sophomore Demarcus Riddick is ready to step up.
Top returners
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WR Cam Coleman: He had a significant impact as a true freshman. Coleman caught 37 passes for 598 yards and eight touchdowns in his debut season.
Jake Crandall/ AdvertiserA former Texas A&M commit, Cam Coleman had seven catches for 128 yards and two touchdowns in Auburn’s 43-41 victory over the Aggies in 2024. - DE Keldric Faulk: Last season, Faulk was second on the team with seven sacks. He also posted 45 tackles, 11 TFLs and was credited with seven quarterback pressures.
- CB Kayin Lee: He’s looking to make progress after breaking into the starting lineup last year. He had 32 tackles, two interceptions and broke up seven passes.
Key additions
- QB Jackson Arnold: The Oklahoma transfer may be rejuvenated in a new setting. He passed for 1,421 yards and 12 touchdowns for the Sooners in 2024.
- WR Eric Singleton Jr.: He had 56 receptions for 754 yards and three touchdowns last season.
- CB Raion Strader: An All-MAC selection at Miami, Ohio, Strader was credited with 18 passes broken up and had two interceptions in 2024.
Key losses
- RB Jarquez Hunter: A fourth-round draft choice of the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams. Hunter was named All-SEC after leading Auburn with 1,201 rushing yards. He also caught 21 passes.
- WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith: A fifth-round draft choice of the NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers, Lambert-Smith was named All-SEC for catching a team-high 50 passes for 981 yards and eight touchdowns.
- LB Jalen McLeod: Sixth-round choice of the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars, McLeod was the 2024 team-leader in sacks with eight and tackles for loss with 13.5.
2025 Auburn Schedule
- Aug. 29 at Baylor
- Sept. 6 vs. Ball State
- Sept. 13 vs. South Alabama
- Sept. 20 at Oklahoma
- Sept. 27 at Texas A&M
- Oct. 11 vs. Georgia
- Oct. 18 vs. Missouri
- Oct. 25 at Arkansas
- Nov. 1 vs. Kentucky
- Nov. 8 at Vanderbilt
- Nov. 22 vs. Mercer
- Nov. 29 vs. Alabama
