Inside Auburn’s First Fall Scrimmage: Freshmen Shine and Thorne Leads the Charge

Auburn football took to Jordan-Hare Stadium on Saturday morning for their first fall camp scrimmage, giving fans a glimpse into what the Tigers might bring to the field this season under Hugh Freeze's leadership.

Though the scrimmage was tagged as “live,” it was managed with caution—whistles were blown early to keep players upright and injury-free. Here’s a look at how the Auburn offense performed during this closely watched session.

Freshmen Receivers Steal the Spotlight

KeAndre Lambert-Smith, a transfer wide receiver from Penn State, was dressed but didn’t participate in the scrimmage after tweaking his ankle earlier in the week. Lambert-Smith is expected to be a significant contributor this season, based on Freeze’s comments during SEC Media Days and early fall practices.

In his absence, Auburn’s freshman receivers made an impressive showing, though not necessarily the ones you’d expect. While much attention has been on newcomers Cam Coleman and Perry Thompson, it was Bryce Cain and Malcolm Simmons who truly stood out.

Cain caught four passes for 80 yards, with 52 of those yards coming from a single play where Holden Geriner’s pump fake left Cain wide open. Simmons, on the other hand, tallied three receptions for 116 yards and scored two touchdowns. His first touchdown came on a deflected 25-yard pass from Payton Thorne, showcasing his determination with a second effort. The second score was a highlight-reel 71-yard play, where Simmons broke a tackle after catching a pass from Geriner and sprinted to the end zone.

Coleman and Thompson also had their moments—Thompson hauled in a 65-yard bomb from Hank Brown, and Coleman made several catches, including a spectacular grab that was unfortunately ruled out of bounds. Freeze had mentioned on Friday that some players would be held back as a precaution, so their limited time on the field was expected.

Payton Thorne Leads the Quarterback Pack

As anticipated, Payton Thorne was the first quarterback to take the field. He quickly connected with Georgia State transfer receiver Robert Lewis for a 7-yard gain. Thorne’s comfort in the system was evident as he made a few solid reads in the RPO game, including one instance where he scrambled for a first down after not finding an open receiver.

Following Thorne, the quarterback rotation included Geriner, freshman Walker White, Thorne again, and then Brown. Geriner’s first series was rocky, ending with a sack and two incomplete passes. White, appearing every bit the freshman, struggled initially but found some rhythm as the scrimmage progressed. Brown, despite throwing the only interception of the day to freshman Kaleb Harris in the end zone, showcased his potential with a 65-yard pass to Thompson.

Other Key Observations

The running game was hard to evaluate due to the controlled nature of the scrimmage. However, Jarquez Hunter, Damari Alston, and Jeremiah Cobb look poised to share the workload this season. To preserve their health, backups Justin Jones and Sean Jackson saw considerable action, with Jackson also catching several passes out of the backfield.

Auburn’s defense was aggressive, putting the offense under pressure throughout the scrimmage. By our count, they managed four “sacks,” though the term is used loosely due to the quick whistles.

The first offensive line unit featured Percy Lewis (LT), Dillon Wade (LG), Connor Lew (C), Jeremiah Wright (RG), and Izavion Miller (RT).

Lastly, tight end Rivaldo Fairweather is expected to remain a central figure in Auburn’s offensive scheme, as Freeze continues to integrate his playmakers into the system.