Hugh Freeze's WR development key in 5-star Auburn commit Perry Thompson's decision to flip from Alabama
For Foley (Ala.) five-star wide receiver Perry Thompson, Hugh Freeze’s background coaching wide receivers trumped Nick Saban’s experience at defensive back.
Thompson was committed to Alabama for over a year, but this past weekend, he flipped his commitment to the Auburn Tigers.
At media day with his high school team, Thompson touched on why he chose to switch his commitment between Iron Bowl rivals.
“I’d say probably a month ago, I looked at Nick Saban and Hugh Freeze — Nick Saban is a good coach, all the stuff he’s had through college football. I know he specializes with (defensive backs), and my main position is receiver,” Thompson said. “And Hugh Freeze has got a background of developing receivers at a higher level. Just that, how you get receivers to their highest point.
And as for how Thompson feels about his Auburn commitment?
“I feel at home.”
Auburn provides chance to ‘build that legacy’
Important to Thompson is the unique position he can play at school in the midst of a program rebuild and just over a decade removed from a national championship.
“I can go build that legacy at Auburn,” Thompson told On3. “I can be someone that helps turn things around and be the guy for the program. It is just the place I feel is the best first for me
…Since Hugh Freeze got to Auburn, he and the staff made me a top priority. Coach Freeze, Coach Marcus Davis, the whole staff and the fan base makes me feel wanted. The feeling for me is just different at Auburn.”
Thompson is the No. 29 overall prospect and No. 8 wide receiver in the 2024 cycle according to the On3 Industry Ranking — a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He is also the No. 3 player in Alabama.
Currently, Thompson has an On3 NIL Valuation of $215K. The On3 NIL Valuation is the industry’s leading index that sets high school and college athletes’ projected annual value (PAV). The NIL valuation does not act as a tracker of the value of NIL deals an athlete has completed to date. It rather signifies an athlete’s value at a certain moment in time.