Cam Coleman Named Alexander Award Player of the Week

© John Reed-Imagn Images

Freshman wide receiver Cam Coleman electrified the more than 88,000 fans in Jordan-Hare Stadium with a long first-quarter touchdown and drew a pivotal pass interference penalty in overtime to help the Auburn Tigers (5-6, 2-5 Southeastern Conference) stun No. 15 Texas A&M (8-3, 5-2) 43-41 on Nov. 23 in Auburn, Ala.

The 6-foot-3 native of Phenix City, Ala. led all receivers with 7 receptions for 128 yards and 2 TDs on the day on his way to being named the Week 13 Shaun Alexander Award Player of the Week by the Maxwell Football Club on Nov. 26.

Star in the Making

Coleman made his presence known early in the game and gave the Tigers some first-half momentum. Already leading 7-0 in the first quarter, quarterback Payton Thorne found a wide-open Coleman running down the middle of the field on a second-and-9 pass. Thorne’s pass hit Coleman in stride and he raced to the end zone for a 63-yard score to give Auburn a 14-0 lead with 6:05 left in the first. Coleman struck again with 13:09 left in the second quarter on a 15-yard TD pass from Thorne to give the Tigers a 21-0 lead. 

Despite the deficit, the Aggies came roaring back and eventually took a 31-28 lead with 4:01 left in the game. The Tigers then tied the game 31-31 on a field goal with five seconds remaining after a 15-play drive to send the game into overtime. Texas A&M opened the first OT with a TD to go up 38-31. On the Tigers' first OT possession, Coleman drew a defensive pass interference penalty on first-and-10 from the Texas A&M 11 to set up Auburn at the 2-yard line. Two plays later, running back Jarquez Hunter tied the game at 38 with a 2-yard TD run. Auburn later won the game on its one-play 2-point conversion attempt and then stopped the Aggies on their ensuing conversion attempt. 

On the Season

Coleman has exploded in his last two games, scoring 5 of his 7 total TDs on the season in two consecutive wins for the Tigers. For the season, Cole has 30 receptions for 520 yards, averaging 17.3 yards per catch. Auburn will finish the season against rival No. 7 Alabama (8-3, 4-3) in the Iron Bowl at 3:30 p.m. EST in Tuscaloosa, Ala. on Nov. 30.

© Jake Crandall/ Advertiser/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Shaun Alexander Award

One of the Maxwell Football Club’s most prestigious awards, the Shaun Alexander Award is presented to the best freshman player in college football each year. Originally named the College Football Freshman Player of the Year Award, the award was established in 2019. The inaugural winner was quarterback Trevor Lawrence of Clemson, while former Alabama and current Ohio State defensive back Caleb Downs won the award in 2023.