Sports

$1.8 Million WR Cam Coleman Rejects Auburn NIL Deal To Ignite Transfer Portal Bidding War

#auburn tigers
by
Cam Coleman enters the transfer portal

iStockphoto / © John Reed-Imagn Images


Auburn wide receiver Cam Coleman is expected to enter the transfer portal in January. That decision is expected to ignite a bidding war amongst college football suitors.

The news comes hours after a positive update was provided on the Tigers‘ ability to keep the pass catcher home. Coleman has rejected the school amid NIL negotiations.

Coleman is one of the sport’s most talented players, regardless of position. After signing with Auburn as a high school prospect, he made an immediate impact.

The wideout scored eight touchdowns as a freshman while averaging more than 16 yards a catch. He boosted his receiving numbers as a sophomore.

Coleman hauled in 56 receptions for a team-high 708 yards last year. He found the endzone five times to account for 45% of the Tigers’ receiving scores.

Auburn had hoped to keep Coleman on the Plains. It appears they have failed.

Cam Coleman rejected the new coaching staff.

The five-star talent signed with Hugh Freeze in 2023. He enrolled in January of ’24 to headline the program’s Top 10 recruiting class.

Much has transpired since. Auburn went 10-14 in his two seasons on campus. The team’s offensive production was lacking.

The Tigers were unable to provide stability at quarterback. They ranked 71st and 74th in points per game, respectively.

Freeze was shown the door midway through the 2025 campaign. He was replaced by Alex Golesh, who made Coleman a top priority.

On Sunday, a report from Tom Loy of 247 Sports suggested that Auburn was in a good spot to keep his commitment.

Sources have informed me that Auburn feels great about him staying and isn’t concerned about him leaving for another program.

-Tom Loy

Those feelings changed drastically in the hours to follow.

The wide receiver will enter the transfer portal.

The team to land Cam Coleman’s signature will have to open up the checkbook. He boasts an NIL valuation of $1.8 million according to On3 Sports.

That number ranks second amongst college football wide receivers behind only Jeremiah Smith of Ohio State.

His initial recruitment included many of the nation’s top programs. He originally chose the Tigers over the likes of Clemson, Texas A&M, Alabama, and LSU.

Those spurned suitors may soon get a second chance at bringing him onboard as a transfer.

With Coleman’s exit, Auburn’s new coaching staff faces a rebuild. Much of the current roster intends to leave the Plains following the change at the helm.

Golesh and Co. will now be down their top player after a brief moment of optimism. Coleman’s recruitment will be an exciting one to follow in the offseason.