Personnel report: Hugh Freeze gives thoughts on newcomers, transfers, and other players

AUBURN – Auburn Live spoke with Hugh Freeze on Saturday during the big junior day recruiting event, and again on Tuesday with several members of the media present. On both of those days, Freeze was willing to give brief thoughts on players that have caught his eye.

Here is everything he said on both days and everyone he talked about, whether organically or prompted about the specific player.

Saturday

Freeze was asked, in general, if any of the young players and/or incoming transfers are standing out to him in spring practice.

“Yeah, (Jerrin) Thompson from Texas,” Freeze said. “He’s a great leader, plays the game like you’re supposed to play it. Smart, high IQ, can play multiple positions. Really pleased with him.”

“I like our young guys in the ’24 class,” Freeze said. “I think Kaleb Harris has really flashed and doing a lot of good things as has Kensley Faustin and many others–If I get to mentioning names I will leave somebody out… Man, Dorian (Mausi) at linebacker has really a great leader, too. Those have been really nice additions to us on defense.”

Freeze continued on by naming several players on the offensive side of the ball.

“Offensively Cam (Coleman) and Bryce (Cain) have continued to show that they’re really the kind of athletes that you need at this level to win,” Freeze said. “Obviously our tailback room we feel really good about, and our tight end room. Need some of the young offensive linemen to come on and gives us depth.”

Freeze was asked specifically about Georgia State transfer Robert Lewis and if he is standing out.

“Yeah, Robert Lewis is a great addition,” Freeze said. “He’s not a young kid, obviously, but he’s going to work himself into playing time, I believe. Sam Jackson, too. You know, he is in a yellow jersey because of his shoulder deal, but he is doing everything other than the contact stuff. I think he has a chance to help also.”

Tuesday

After a few days of reflecting on the practices up to this point, Auburn will hit the field again on Tuesday, more than likely donning the full pads. Freeze was asked the same question essentially. He went on a roll talking about several different players starting with young players on the defensive side of the ball.

“Well, I love the ’24 class,” Freeze repeated on Tuesday. “I really do. I think, man Amaris (Williams) flashes, (Jamonta) Waller flashes, (Malik) Blocton flashes on the defensive front, all of those guys.”

“Those linebackers, (Demarcus) Riddick, and DJ (Barber), we’ve moved Joe Phillips to Buck now and I think that’s more of a natural position for him. Of those front guys, all of them are kind of flashing at times. They’re throwing them in there some with the ones–not that there are any ones right now, it’s just that we are rotating those guys around. I think we’ve got some really good players in there that will eventually be really good in this league.”

Coleman was mentioned again on Tuesday as a receiver showing out.

“Offensively, Cam Coleman continues to show up,” Freeze said. “I think Camden Brown, Sam Jackson, and Robert Lewis have improved that room along with the ones we have currently.”

Then, Freeze ended by talking about a few of the young secondary players.

“The secondary guys that we signed last year, many of them whether it’s Tyler Scott, we know Kayin Lee has played a lot of ball already, Colton Hood is showing up also, Sylvester Smith. So, we are excited about those young guys.”

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