AUBURN — Cam Coleman is still supposed to be in high school. In fact, he was headed to the prom on Saturday night as soon as he left the Auburn football facilities.
But he’s not in high school. Instead, he’s winning offensive MVP honors as a true freshman in Auburn’s A-Day game. That’s something no other true freshman has ever done in the history of the program.
“Experiencing the whole thing, I love the fans, it was just a great atmosphere. It was great energy around. It was a great experience overall,” Coleman said. “I would describe it as a learning experience. I’m still in high school. Not really in high school, but should be in high school. I’m learning from the older guys and soaking in the information like a sponge.”
Coleman finished the game with four catches for 92 yards and one touchdown. Coleman’s 49-yard grab and long touchdown grab both came against fellow freshman Jalyn Crawford. The touchdown catch came against good coverage, as Crawford was in position, but couldn’t quite find the football. Coleman kept his concentration and hauled it in.
“I can tell you from experience, it’s really nice. It’s really nice,” quarterback Payton Thorne said of having a player the caliber of Coleman. “You love playing with a confident receiver and he backs it up, too. He’s just going to keep getting better and better. I’m excited to watch his journey, he’s going to be a special player.”
“I think he changes us,” Hugh Freeze said. “He just tracks the ball and thinks every ball is catchable. I know he made a couple great ones. There’s one he didn’t that might have been his best effort. He honestly had that for a second. They didn’t call many of those today. He tracks the ball naturally. He’s so teachable and coachable.
“He had a couple of missed assignments in the tight redone on balls we were hoping to throw him down there that got us in trouble. That’s on us, we have to clean that up and make sure he knows the whole system. But when he knows what to do, he’s really, really talented.”
Coleman said he should have caught two touchdowns, but pressure on Payton Thorne caused an errant throw on another attempt. All in all, Coleman said it doesn’t matter who throws him the football, he’s learning quickly to be right and ready.
“I’m usually nervous, but I was just chilling. I prayed before I went out there, took some deep breaths and performed,” Coleman said. “I know in this league, in the SEC, the DBs aren’t going to just let you catch the ball. You have to be aggressive catching the ball and hold onto it.”
Coleman has earned the right to be the talk of spring camp, but he doesn’t plan on broadcasting it to all his old high school friends. He’s going to trade his orange and blue uniform for a black tuxedo with a silver tie, and try and go have some high-school fun one more time.
“I won’t go around bragging, but they’ll see it eventually.”
The post Cam Coleman earns A-Day MVP honors: ‘I went out there, took some deep breaths and performed’ appeared first on On3.