After flipping his commitment from Georgia Tech to Auburn, Freshman wide receiver Sam Turner has already made a name for himself on the Plains.

Since the first day of spring practice, Turner has been a key weapon in the Tigers passing attack. Auburn football coach Hugh Freeze has been vocal about how fast he has picked up the Tigers offense.

“Man, you saw what I saw today. I mean, ball came his way, and he made plays,” Freeze said after the first day of spring practice. “Even though Sam’s a true freshman, I think we nailed that recruitment of our evaluation of him. Excited about the depth that we have there.”

Coming in as a three-star prospect, Turner was the No. 479 overall recruit in the country, according to the 247Sports composite rankings. The 6-foot-1, 195-pound receiver out of Decatur, Georgia, had been committed to the Yellow Jackets since June.

“I’m really big on faith and Coach Freeze really preached that in my recruitment,” Turner said about his decision coming to Auburn. “Also, coach Marcus Davis was really showing me, I know when he went out his way to come and see me practice during the season last year and that kind of let me know where I needed to be.”

Turner also added that one of his favorite players to watch when he was in high school was a former Auburn wide receiver.

“My favorite guy, who is not even playing with us anymore was KeAndre Lambert-Smith. I was following him since Penn State. I knew him when he was number one,” Turner said. “That was my guy. So, during recruitment I looked up to him, but Eric Singleton, we are close too. That’s also my guy.”

Eric Singleton transferred from Georgia Tech to Auburn over the offseason, headlining the Tigers transfer portal additions.

Turner said his relationship with Singleton goes back to youth sports with both players being from the state of Georgia.

“I’d say probably three years since we’ve known each other, because I knew him from track to youth football, everything,” Turner added. “But he’s been a good mentor to me. I go to his house all the time.”

In the final practice before A-day, Turner made circus catch along the sideline in one-on-one coverage against fellow freshman Donavan Starr.

During the A-Day spring practice on Saturday, Turner was targeted several times during the final scrimmage period. Despite not hauling in a catch, Turner’s success in practice has him confident and ready for fall camp.

“I expect to play, and I also think Coach Davis has played a big role in showing me that I can play and believing in me and that’s all I needed,” Turner said.

“I’m not done showing them yet, but I feel like I took a step in the right direction, and I have to prove it more in fall camp.”

Jerry Humphrey III covers Auburn sports for AL.com. You can follow him on X at @Jerryhump3 or email him at [email protected].