Auburn football notebook: Freeze Four flash in debut

AUBURN, Ala. – Arriving at Auburn with perhaps more fanfare than any freshman receivers in program history, the Tigers’ in-state quartet not only met the exuberant expectations in their debut.

The Freeze Four exceeded them.

Combining for nine catches, 268 receiving yards and four touchdowns – including one on special teams – Cam Coleman, Perry Thompson, Malcolm Simmons and Bryce Cain served notice that receivers are now a position of strength on the Plains.

“We had a long summer,” said Simmons, who made three catches for 91 yards, including a 57-yard touchdown catch from Hank Brown, while adding a touchdown after Micah Riley blocked a punt. “As long as we come together, we are going to put up points and do what we do as a receiver room.”

“It was crazy because all the work we put in practice and every week in the fall counts,” said Thompson, whose receptions netted 82 yards, including a 70-yard touchdown. “Any time any of us get in the end zone, I’m very excited for everybody.”

“Our unit could be very special,” said Coleman, who made two receptions for 62 yards, including a 44-yard touchdown. “We just have to keep stacking days in practice. We just have to work every day in practice.”

The Freeze Four combined to haul in more half of Auburn’s 451passing yards, the most in a season opener in program history.

“I had a lot of family here tonight,” Coleman said. “I appreciate my family being able to come out and support me. It was crazy, the atmosphere, the experience. When I went out there and started warming up, I saw the fans start feeling it. I was like, ‘It’s about to get real.’ It was definitely a good experience.”

TOUCHBACK TOWNS

Playing a few miles from where his powerful right leg made a high school kicking legend, hometown freshman Towns McGough kicked like a veteran in his Auburn debut.

McGough went 10-for-10 on extra points and converted his only field goal attempt, a 32-yarder.

“This week has been neat for me and a cool experience,” McGough said. “It hit me yesterday in the hotel that I would be playing in front of the stands and on the field that I grew up as a fan coming to.

“It’s all glory to God. After that first field goal, there was so much excitement in my heart. I almost had tears of joy running out on the field for the first time. It was a surreal moment and a full circle taking it all in. I’m so blessed to have this opportunity.”

“Touchback Towns” also excelled on kickoffs, totaling seven unreturned kickoffs, including his first four.

“The first one, hitting it out of the back, was really exciting,” McGough said. “My goal was to hit one through the goal post and I think I did something like that, but those kickoffs to start the first quarter had me amped up. I think it was a bunch of adrenaline coming to me.”

SACK EXCHANGE

While holding Alabama A&M out of the end zone, Auburn combined for three sacks, with Jalen McLeod, Keldric Faulk and freshman Malik Blocton each recording one.

McLeod’s third-down sack ended the visitors’ best touchdown opportunity, forcing a field goal attempt after the Bulldogs advanced to Auburn’s 1-yard line.

“It was like an energy change,” McLeod said. “It was in the red zone and you just have to stop and that right there gave everybody confidence.” 

Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on X: @jeff_shearer