Auburn Tigers Head coach Hugh Freeze stressed the importance of revamping the wide receiver unit following the 2023 season.

Auburn has just 2,109 receiving yards in 2023 and the leading receiver, tight end Rivaldo Fairweather, has totaled just 394 yards. The Tigers have only seen two other players cross the 300-yard threshold. She can best be described as anemic.

It’s been a much better start to 2024. The Tigers have totaled 2,022 air yards in eight games. With four games remaining, they are on pace to match last season’s numbers.

Their leading receiver, KeAndre Lambert-Smith, has 579 yards so far, nearly two 200 yards better in three quarters of games, and Malcolm Simmons has crossed the 300-yard threshold with two other receivers approaching it. .

If there’s a silver lining to this disappointing year for the Auburn Tigers, it’s the improvement in the passing game compared to last season.

Freeze has made upgrades to the receiving core through the portal and on the recruiting trail.

In addition to transfer portal veterans Lambert-Smith and Robert Lewis, a group of highly regarded freshmen has made an impact. Simmons is Auburn’s No. 2 receiver, followed by Cam Coleman, who was the No. 5 player in the 2024 recruiting class according to .

It hasn’t been perfect, Auburn still makes a lot of mistakes in the passing game. However, Freeze thinks things are on the right track.

“We still have a way to go, but that’s pretty normal,” Freeze said. “They’re getting better every week.”

With three freshmen receiving significant playing time at wideout and the offense seeing improvement in the passing game since their arrival, the future of Auburn’s ability to move the ball through the air s promising announcement.

Auburn has two wide receivers currently committed to its 2025 recruiting class which is currently ranked No. 5 nationally according to . Four-star Derick Smith and three-star Sam Turner are the two wide receivers currently committed to the Tigers for 2025, adding more young talent to the room.