When Hugh Freeze took over at Auburn, the buzz wasn’t about what the Tigers were-it was about what they could become. The wins weren’t stacking up, but the recruiting classes were. And no group captured that sense of future promise more than the 2024 wide receiver class, a quartet nicknamed the “Freeze Four”: Cam Coleman, Perry Thompson, Malcolm Simmons, and Bryce Cain.
Two years later, that once-hyped group is on the verge of dissolving. Three of the four-Coleman, Thompson, and Simmons-are expected to enter the transfer portal.
Cain hasn’t made any public move yet, but his limited playing time over the past two seasons separates him from the rest of the group. What was once a cornerstone of Freeze’s vision for Auburn’s resurgence now feels like a symbol of what never quite materialized.
Let’s break it down.
Cam Coleman: The Star That Never Took Off
Cam Coleman was the headliner, and for good reason. He brought elite talent to a team that desperately needed a spark in the passing game.
Even in a struggling offense, Coleman stood out-dynamic, explosive, the kind of receiver who could change a game with a single play. New head coach Alex Golesh and offensive coordinator Joel Gordon made retaining Coleman a top priority, and it’s easy to see why.
He was the most electric piece in an offense that otherwise sputtered under Freeze.
But with news breaking that Coleman intends to enter the portal, Auburn is staring down the loss of its most promising weapon. It’s a tough pill to swallow, especially considering what he could have been in a more functional offensive system. His time on the Plains will likely be remembered as a missed opportunity-too much potential, not enough production.
Perry Thompson: The Flip That Fizzled
Perry Thompson’s recruitment made waves when he flipped from Alabama to Auburn. It was a major win for Freeze at the time, a sign that Auburn could still go toe-to-toe with the Tide on the trail. But on the field, Thompson never quite found his footing.
He barely saw the field as a freshman, and while his role expanded in 2025, the results were modest: 17 catches, and not much else to write home about. Whether it was the scheme, the quarterback play, or simply a longer development curve, Thompson didn’t live up to the hype. He’s still got the size and tools to be a productive college receiver, but it looks like that next chapter won’t be written at Auburn.
Malcolm Simmons: A Complicated Tenure
Simmons showed flashes early. As a freshman, he was productive even before Coleman broke out, and his 2024 season was solid-40 catches, 451 yards. But 2025 was a different story.
His usage dipped, and much of the attention in the passing game shifted to Georgia Tech transfer Eric Singleton Jr., who emerged as the team’s top target. Off the field, Simmons dealt with serious issues, including a July arrest on a charge of domestic assault with strangulation or suffocation. That cloud hung over his season, and while he had a strong finish-more than 60% of his receiving yards came in Auburn’s final two games-his overall impact was limited.
Simmons had moments, particularly as a slot option and return man, but never truly evolved into a consistent threat. His time at Auburn ends with more questions than answers.
Bryce Cain: The Last One Standing (For Now)
Cain, the quietest member of the Freeze Four, hasn’t made any public move toward the portal. But his role has been minimal, and he’s logged far fewer snaps than his counterparts.
That could change in 2026, especially with the position group in flux. Maybe Cain sticks around and earns a bigger role in Golesh’s offense.
Or maybe he follows the same path as the others and looks for a fresh start elsewhere. At this point, either outcome feels possible.
A Snapshot of the Freeze Era
The Freeze Four was supposed to be the group that helped Auburn turn the corner. Instead, they’ve become a reflection of the Freeze era itself-highly touted, full of potential, but ultimately unfulfilled.
There was talent, no doubt. There was excitement.
But the results never caught up to the expectations.
Now, as Golesh and his staff take over a program that’s gone 10-14 over the past two seasons, a hard reset might not be the worst thing. Losing Coleman hurts, and watching a once-celebrated recruiting class scatter is never easy. But if Auburn is going to rebuild-and rebuild the right way-it starts with building around players who fit the system, the culture, and the vision moving forward.
The Freeze Four may be fading into Auburn history, but the next chapter is already being written.