While the Auburn football season did not go the way anyone around the program hoped a season ago, plenty of young Tigers were able to make an impact on the Plains. Cam Coleman stole the show, but plenty of other first-year Tigers created a sense of optimism around the Hugh Freeze era, which is set to begin its third season in 2025.
Coleman, along with surprise star defensive backs Jay Crawford and Kaleb Harris, led a group of gifted newcomers that played the third most snaps of any freshman contingent in college football last season according to Pro Football Focus data. Only Clemson (3,494) and Oklahoma (2,913) had more rookies earn playing time than Auburn newbies (2,891). Notre Dame (2,843) and Alabama (2,305) rounded out the top five. Auburn was the only team to end the season with more losses than wins, while Clemson and Notre Dame both qualified for the College Football Playoff.
Harris (608) and Crawford (503) widely led the defensive true freshman in snap share last season, with Coleman (551) pacing the offensive freshman during his record-setting season at wide receiver. The defensive back duo of Harris and Crawford helped DJ Durkin’s defense surprisingly improve throughout the year, with Crawford leading the team with 7 pass breakups.
Harris, who earned ‘On3 mid-season true freshman All-American’ honors after a strong start to the season, finished sixth on the team with 44 total tackles. The 44 wrap ups were second among all Tigers defensive backs, behind only impact senior Jerrin Thompson’s 65.
No other Auburn true freshman earned more than 300 snaps throughout the fall, although wide receiver Malcolm Simmons (292), defensive lineman Malik Blocton (305), and linebacker Demarcus Riddick (238), all played meaningful snaps at different points in Auburn’s seesaw season. Safety Kensley Louidor-Faustin (146), defensive lineman Amaris Williams (120), place kicker and Auburn native Towns McGough (102), and wide receiver Perry Thompson (100), were the only other Tigers to receive over 100 snaps.
With an influx of more talented freshman on the way, it’s extremely possible Auburn may be on this list again next season. If those accomplished recruits pair well with the vast talent already on the roster, Hugh Freeze’s team may see their name on a few more impactful rankings next fall.
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This article originally appeared on Auburn Wire: Which Auburn football freshmen played the most snaps in 2024
