Auburn Recruiting News: Cam Coleman and Ryan Williams

Cam Coleman and Ryan Williams recruiting news

Brian Smith | Nov 26, 2023

Auburn Recruiting News: Cam Coleman and Ryan Williams /

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Auburn Tigers

The Auburn Tigers are building a big-time 2024 recruiting class and the Iron Bowl recruiting list is an example of how it can eventually be one of the nation’s 10 best. There’s so much to discuss that I am breaking this into two recruiting articles.

First up, let’s dive right into the two elite wide receiver recruits that Hugh Freeze and the Tigers are coveting in addition to Bryce Cain, Perry Thompson, and Malcolm Simmons (more on them in the second article). Now, onto the scoop.

Cam Coleman, wide receiver, Phenix City (Ala.) Central - Texas A&M Commitment - 2024

Since Jimbo Fisher’s firing from the Aggies, the number of commitments that end up signing with a different school would be anyone’s guess. Towards the top of that list would be Coleman. He went to the Miami at Florida State game a few weeks ago and was also in attendance for the Iron Bowl between Alabama and Auburn.

Coleman does not want to completely tip his hand, and that’s fine. Auburn and FSU are still the most likely landing spots from what’s stated of late. Before even walking into the Iron Bowl I felt that way.

Speaking directly with him on Saturday, he did say something that leads one to believe that Coleman is not 100% sold on any one school and maybe needs a bit more time to sort everything out.

LOOK: Auburn Commit Walker White Wears Hoodie With a List of Wanted Recruits to the Iron Bowl

When asked when he would be completely done – and not talk to any school but the one he’s signing with – Coleman offered a point-blank answer.

It will be “Dec. 20,” Coleman said. That date, of course, is National Signing Day. I did not press him to give me some type of special insider information. He’s hammered enough as it is. That being the case, I do have some thoughts that combine prior intel with our conversation overall.

Coleman is a really down-to-earth young man and one who wants to make the right choice for him. Our conversation made it clear that recruiting is leaning on him a bit; his phone is probably blowing up with coaches calling him. In the end, this is still likely to come down to Auburn and Florida State. It’s a huge battle that the Tigers just have to win to protect their own recruiting backyard and eventually begin to ascend toward the top of the SEC football win-loss standings.

Ryan Williams, wide receiver, Saraland (Ala.) High School - Alabama Commitment - 2025

Yes, Texas, Georgia, and Southern California are still in the race according to Williams, technically speaking, but he also gave a quote that places things into perspective.

“It’s probably Alabama or Auburn,” Williams admitted about his final college destination.

Despite being an early pledge to the Tide, the Tigers are going after him hard. He's been on campus multiple times for AU home games with the Iron Bowl being the latest time for Williams.

To make Freeze's offense truly electric there needs to be more sheer speed and playmaking ability out wide. That's where Williams comes into play as he's not only a burner but a player that can make a defender miss in tight space.

All of that in mind, when one considers that Williams is the returning Alabama prep player of the year – as a mere sophomore – it’s not surprising that Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide long since brought up Williams moving to the college level a year early by reclassifying to the class of 2024. Here’s another glimpse as to why.

Williams is also a standout on the track. He's a 10.3 100-meter guy. That’s incredible for someone who has not yet begun his junior track season. I asked Williams about his 100-meter goal this next spring and the answer was impressive.

“10.1,” Williams said immediately and with a matter-of-fact look on his face. Here’s the scary part. He’s not been 100% healthy for a long time. Williams is now, according to him on Saturday, working with two healthy hamstrings.

Even if he moves up to the class of 2024, Williams is a player who’s talented enough to be ranked inside the top 20 for all of the major recruiting services. To that point, I have a bit of a turnabout regarding how his recruitment is going.

My Take on Williams: I have long since believed that Williams would attend Alabama. I believed that last summer when I was with him at the Under Armour Future 50 event, as well as speaking with someone a day before the Iron Bowl who’s quite frankly far more in tune with Williams’ recruitment than I am. Both situations led me to believe it's Bama long-term for Williams.

Speaking with Williams face-to-face on Saturday, however, he’s legitimately considering Auburn and the Tigers could win this recruitment. That’s 100% my take. I did not ask Williams to rank Bama or Auburn, or anything of the sort. That’s just the vibe I gathered after speaking with the young man right after the Iron Bowl.

Now, his recruitment is far more complex than Coleman’s because of the classification situation. No clue when Williams is making the decision and neither does he going by our conversation. It's going to be interesting to see what he ends up doing.

Like Coleman, I also appreciate Williams for being such an easy-going guy. A lot of elite recruits are not like them. A tip of the cap to each. Both are class acts.