Auburn football notebook: Cam's catch 'like second nature'

AUBURN, Ala. – When he saw a Louisiana Monroe defender jump offside, Cam Coleman knew what to do.

“When they jump offside, we take off,” Coleman said. “I saw he was pressing me, so I said, ‘I’ve got to win.’ Then I saw the ball in the air and I was like, ‘Oh, snap,’ and the defender was holding me, so I had to get the defender off me.”

Using the leaping ability that Auburn quarterback Payton Thorne described as “majestic” before the season, the 6-3 freshman jumped and hauled in Thorne’s pass with one hand while turning, landing in bounds and maintaining possession, a spectacular 22-yard touchdown catch, his third of the game.

“It felt like an instinct,” Coleman said. “We practice it so much. It’s like second nature.”

In Auburn’s 48-14 victory Saturday over Louisiana Monroe at Jordan-Hare Stadium, Coleman made eight receptions for 100 yards, the first Auburn freshman receiver in 25 years to produce a 100-yard game.

“The way I prepared throughout the week, I was very attentive to details,” Coleman said. “I practice hard every day and give it my all, whether it be a drill, seven on seven, one on ones. I practice like it’s my last game.”

1,000-YARD CLUB

Jarquez Hunter became the first Auburn running back since Tank Bigsby in 2021 to rush for more than 1,000 yards in a season.

Hunter gained 102 yards on 14 rushes, an average of 7.3 yards per carry, his third 100-yard game of the season and 11^th of his career, to give him 1,015 yards on the season.

“It’s very special to me,” said Hunter, who ranks sixth on Auburn’s all-time rushing list with 3,185 yards. “I tried to work in the offseason, I planned for this moment. I couldn’t do it without the help of the O-line, tight ends and receivers doing a great job blocking and making sure I get to where I need to be.

“I executed off their blocks. It’s very special to add to the great running backs who have been here before me, to be part of one of them.”

RAISING THE ROOF

When Birmingham-Southern closed after the spring semester, Ian Vachon was a kicker without a football team.

The Huntsville, Alabama, native worked for a roofing company over the summer when he received a life-changing call from Auburn. The Tigers needed a kicker, Vachon needed a team.

“God opened an opportunity for me, and I’m so thankful that He’s put me in this position and put the ability in me to get it done at this level,” said Vachon, who did not hesitate when Auburn offered him the opportunity to join the program. “Immediately. I couldn’t believe it. Hearing them want me fired me up, I was ready to go.”

In his Auburn debut, Vachon kicked field goals of 22 and 26 yards while going 6-for-6 on extra points.

“A surreal moment for me and my family up in the stands,” Vachon said. “Coming from D-III and working during the summer and not sure if I was going to play football. Getting to go on the field and kick, that’s something you dream of as a kid.

“Nervous for the first one. After that one I was good. I’m ready to go. It’s always an honor to throw on the orange and blue and to wear a jersey that says Auburn on the front and play in front of the best fans in the SEC. Felt good today to get it off my back. Hoping to get it don’t next week too.”

PENALTY-FREE, WAY TO BE

Auburn did not commit any penalties Saturday, a feat the Tigers had not accomplished since at least the 1996 season, perhaps longer.

“I don’t know in my 33 years of coaching, I can’ t remember ever having a penalty-free game,” Auburn coach Hugh Freeze said. “That’s pretty remarkable for sure. That’s a good sign.”

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