Several Auburn Tigers players have fallen short of expectations in 2024, mirroring the struggles of the 2-4 team as a whole.
The Auburn Tigers are well below their expectations at the halfway mark of the season.
Sitting at 2-4, without a win in SEC play, and currently on a three-game losing skid, the Tigers now face two consecutive road games.
A portion of Auburn’s difficulties stems from key players not performing at the level anticipated. Who have been the biggest disappointments for the Tigers this season so far?
Payton Thorne, QB
The fifth-year senior from Naperville, Illinois, has had difficulty finding his rhythm in his second year as Auburn’s quarterback.
Thorne threw four interceptions in Auburn’s loss to Cal, which cost him the starting position. He regained it after redshirt freshman Hank Brown struggled with ball security in the first half against Arkansas.
Despite ranking sixth in passing attempts in the SEC, Thorne leads the conference in interceptions.
He seemed to turn things around against Oklahoma, completing 21 of 32 passes for 338 yards and three touchdowns. However, a critical pick-six ultimately led to the Tigers’ defeat
Cam Coleman, WR
Coleman, a 6-foot-3 true freshman from Phenix City, Alabama, and the standout recruit in Auburn’s 2024 class, has not had the beginning to his college career that he anticipated.
Ranked fifth nationally and as the highest-rated offensive recruit in the program’s history, he has recorded nine receptions for 212 yards and one touchdown this season. Since injuring his shoulder in the second week against Cal, Coleman hasn’t performed at his best.
Given the quarterback challenges the Tigers have faced in 2024, it’s understandable that the freshman receiver has encountered difficulties.
This leads us to…
Perry Thompson, WR
Thompson, a true freshman hailing from Foley, Ala., was anticipated to have an immediate impact in Auburn’s revamped wide receiver lineup. However, this has not materialized, as he has recorded only four receptions for 123 yards and one touchdown.
Unlike some of his teammates, Thompson hasn’t had as many chances to showcase his skills. Nevertheless, he has made the most of his limited opportunities and will look to move up the depth chart in the latter part of the season.
Auburn will return to action on Saturday, Oct. 19, facing the No. 21 Missouri Tigers on the road at Memorial Stadium, with kickoff scheduled for between 11:00 and 11:45 a.m. CT, airing on either ESPN or the SEC Network.
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