Auburn cornerback Champ Anthony shares Cam Coleman is winning most 50-50 balls

It’s difficult to discuss Auburn‘s fall camp without Cam Coleman being brought up. The freshman wide receiver has turned heads from the moment he stepped foot on camp. Auburn defensive backs must be tired of going against him, ready to see Coleman play against a different color jersey.

Hugh Freeze will be able to use Coleman multiple different ways. But the easiest for quarterback Payton Thorne might just be throwing the ball up and waiting for the play to be made. If you ask Champ Anthony, Coleman is coming down with 50-50 balls more times than not.

“Auburn cornerback Champ Anthony says 50-50 balls against Cam Coleman ‘are more like 60-40, 70-30’ in Coleman’s favor,” Justin Hokanson of On3’s Auburn Live said via X.

Anthony is not just any other defender on the Auburn roster. He played in all 13 games for the Tigers last season after transferring in from JUCO. Plenty inside the program have labeled Anthony a leader heading into the 2024 season. His word on Coleman might carry just a little more value.

Coleman played high school football at Phenix City (AL) Central, where he was a Five-Star Plus+ prospect. He was the No. 4 overall recruit in the 2024 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

Freeze has been careful to put high expectations on any freshman entering the program. But Auburn fans went through a dark time from a recruiting aspect as Bryan Harsin did not prioritize player acquisition as you must in the SEC. So when somebody like Coleman joins the squad, there is going to be excitement.

Even Freeze has been highly complimentary of his wide receiver throughout the summer and now into fall camp.

“I love him,” Freeze said about Coleman at SEC Media Days. “I’m careful not to put too unrealistic expectations on freshmen… Cam went through spring so I have more feel for who he is and he’s gonna have to play. I mean he’s really, really talented.”

Soon enough, Coleman will get to stop terrorizing Anthony and the Auburn defensive back room. Alabama A&M will be the first game action the freshman gets, getting to display his talents at Jordan-Hare Stadium for the first time in a regular season game.

50-50 turning into 70-30 this early in a career further indicates what a special player is on the Plains.