A Few Takeaways From Auburn's A-Day Game

Auburn fans got a glimpse for the 2024 roster for the first time on Saturday.

Auburn Tigers quarterback Payton Thorne (1) during practice at Woltosz Football Performance Center / Jake Crandall / USA TODAY NETWORK

Auburn fans were able to see the 2024 Auburn football team for the first time on Saturday in Jordan Hare Stadium as part of the annual A_Day game.

After about an hour of drills and warmups, Hugh Freeze's team lined up for the public scrimmage and there were some takeaways from the action.

It took a while for the offense to get going

As Auburn's quarterbacks rotated with the offense, the order we saw the quarterbacks was the same order that we've seen all spring - Payton Thorne, Holden Geriner, Hank Brown, and Walker White.

The first big play from the offense was a 49-yard pass from Brown to star freshman wide receiver Cam Coleman. The offense stalled and had to settle for a field goal.

Thorne's second drive looked a lot better. He went through progressions and got multiple wide receivers involved in the passing game.

Cam Coleman is different

Cam Coleman was the brightest part of Auburn's A-Day. His afternoon was highlted by a 66-yard touchdown grab from Thorne. It was the first touchdown of the day after five field goals.

Coleman ended the day with four catches, 92 yards, and a score.

Auburn's defensive line showed up

The defensive line has been one of my biggest questions about this roster all spring - they held their own today and excelled in the red zone forcing field goals.

The defensive line contributors were the expected cast of characters we've seen with the top two groups all spring. Jayson Jones, Gage Keys, Trill Carter, Quientrail Jamison-Travis, Keldric Faulk, and Jalen McLeod. Freshman Malik Blocton rotated in with the first unit at times on Saturday.

Keys, Jamison-Travis and defensive back Jerrin Thompson were all credited with a sack.

The wide receivers seem different than a year ago

A clear weakness from a season ago, the wide receiver room appears different than the group we saw last spring. There's some pop with Cam Coleman. Cam Brown had a good play early after catching a pass from White, making a defender miss, and running for a first down.

The starting wide receivers were the same that we have seen throughout the spring. Coleman, Robert Lewis, and Sam Jackson V.

Thorne connected with Lewis for a 40-yard strike in the second half that may have been one of the best plays for the ball we saw by a wide receiver on Saturday. Two plays later, Thorne connected with Jackson for 17 yards in the middle of the field.

Auburn's kicking situation is just fine

Despite Alex McPherson missing time due to a hamstring situation, freshman Towns McGough did everything Auburn asked him to. He was seen making 50+ yard kicks in warmups and with the offense unable to consistently finish drives, he put points on the board to chip away the deficit by the defense.

He made kicks from 36, 33, 34,43, 49, and 26 yards. And then a 58-yard game winner to give the offense a 28-27 win.