Tag: Perry Thompson

Auburn Tigers set date for 2024 A-Day spring game

The Auburn Tigers will play their annual A-Day spring game on April 6.

The start of spring practice is just around the corner and the Auburn Tigers football program announced that the 2024 A-Day spring game will be held on April 6.

The Tigers have not yet announced the spring practice schedule or any more details for the game, such as a time or if it will be on TV.

The spring practice window will be an important time for [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] ahead of his second season on the Plains. The Tigers replaced both coordinators after ending the season on a three-game losing streak to drop to 6-7, their third straight losing season. [autotag]Derrick Nix[/autotag] was named the offensive coordinator and running backs coach, while the defensive coordinator spot has not been filled yet.

The spring practice slate will Auburn’s incoming freshmen to start to learn the offense and make a push for early playing time, especially at wide receiver where they signed five-star [autotag]Cam Coleman[/autotag] and [autotag]Perry Thompson[/autotag]. The Tigers are hoping the talented freshman and a reworked offensive staff will allow [autotag]Payton Thorne[/autotag] and the passing attack to take a step forward.

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Five-star WR Ryan Williams backs off Alabama pledge

Auburn target and former Alabama commit is back on the market following the retirement of Nick Saban.

The college football world was shaken on Wednesday afternoon after it was announced that Alabama head coach Nick Saban decided to retire following a career that spanned 28 seasons.

The news of his retirement could benefit Auburn in a myriad of ways, including the recruiting trail.

Shortly after Chris Low of ESPN broke the news of Saban’s retirement, Hayes Fawcett of On3 broke the news of five-star wide receiver and heavy Auburn target [autotag]Ryan Williams[/autotag]’s intention to de-commit from Alabama.

[autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] and the Auburn coaching staff have signed four talented wide receivers to their 2024 recruiting haul: [autotag]Perry Thompson[/autotag], [autotag]Cam Coleman[/autotag], [autotag]Malcolm Simmons[/autotag], and [autotag]Bryce Cain[/autotag]. Not only has the coaching staff worked around the clock to flip Williams from his Alabama pledge, but so have the aforementioned receiver signees. Each signee hopes to sway Williams to join the Auburn roster so that they can complete the group that would be dubbed “The Freeze Five.”

Williams re-classified to the 2024 class, which makes him eligible to sign with a program this year. He has scheduled three official visits to Alabama, Texas, and Auburn, with Auburn getting the final visit during the weekend of Feb. 3 before officially announcing his next move on Feb. 7.

Williams is a five-star rated wide receiver by all major recruiting outlets. He is the No. 2 overall recruit from the state of Alabama behind Auburn signee Cam Coleman, and is a top-five receiver according to 247Sports, On3, ESPN, and Rivals.

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Hugh Freeze compares Cam Coleman to former Ole Miss receiver

Auburn’s top signee of the 2024 cycle plays with a style similar to one of Freeze’s best receivers ever.

Recruiting and developing receivers such as Evan Engram and DK Metcalf is what put [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] on the map during his time as the head coach at Ole Miss.

Freeze is looking to copy, or even build on, his success in developing receivers at Auburn. He is well on his way to doing that after signing what is considered to be the best receiver haul in program history.

Auburn earned the signatures of five stars [autotag]Perry Thompson[/autotag] and [autotag]Cam Coleman[/autotag] and four-stars [autotag]Bryce Cain[/autotag] and [autotag]Malcolm Simmons[/autotag] during the first day of the early signing period on Wednesday.

Coleman was the last piece to the puzzle, as he flipped from Texas A&M to Auburn on Dec. 1. He originally committed to the Aggies on July 5, but backed off his pledge following the dismissal of Jimbo Fisher from the program.

Despite being committed to another program, Coleman remained heavily pursued by Auburn. Freeze described his chase of Coleman as “a long process” but is one that he is happy worked in his favor.

Coleman is also seen as a receiver that can help the Tigers’ offense immediately. Freeze described what he sees in Coleman, and even compared him to a receiver he coached during his time at Ole Miss.

“Cam tracks the ball as well as any I’ve seen,” Freeze said during a recent interview with SEC Network. “I’m reminded of when we took over at Ole Miss and tried to turn that program. That first full class we had? I was able to sign a guy by the name of Laquon Treadwell that really transformed what we could do offensively. I see Cam in that same light.”

Treadwell played for Freeze at Ole Miss from 2013-15. During that time, he caught 202 passes for 2,393 yards and 21 scores over 35 games.

Can Coleman replicate Treadwell’s success at Auburn?

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Auburn’s wide receiver class named the best in the country by 247Sports

Auburn is the only program to sign multiple five-star wide receivers.

Prior to Wednesday, Ben Obomanu was the only composite five-star wide receiver to sign with Auburn. The number has now grown to three with [autotag]Cam Coleman[/autotag] and [autotag]Perry Thompson[/autotag] both signing with [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] and Auburn during the early signing period.

But they weren’t the only receivers that wide receivers coach [autotag]Marcus Davis[/autotag] landed, four-star prospects [autotag]Bryce Cain[/autotag] and [autotag]Malcolm Simmons[/autotag] both inked their letters of intent to complete the impressive haul.

The Tigers were the only program to land multiple five-star wide receivers and 247Sports believes the class is the best in the country. With national recruiting analyst Cooper Petagna believing all four have the ability to play in the NFL.

“(Freeze) has done a tremendous job. I talked about it, if you’re looking at Auburn and how they’re going to be different and separate themselves over the next couple of years, look no further than this receiver position.”

The Tigers are not done at wide receiver either, they are firmly in the mix for five-star Alabama commit [autotag]Ryan Williams[/autotag]. The Auburn legacy has been committed to the Crimson Tide since October 2002 but recently reclassified to the 2024 cycle and won’t sign with a program until February.

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Kicker Towns McGough signs with hometown Auburn Tigers

The Auburn High product is the nation’s No. 3 ranked kicker by Kohl’s Kicking Camp ranking.

The tradition of “Kicker U” is alive and well at Auburn University.

Hugh Freeze has signed his future kicker in [autotag]Towns McGough[/autotag], a three-star kicker from Auburn High School.

McGough earned All-American honors from both MaxPreps and Under Armour, and he competed in the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star game alongside fellow Auburn signees [autotag]Perry Thompson[/autotag], [autotag]Cam Coleman[/autotag], and [autotag]Kaleb Harris[/autotag].

He chose a preferred walk-on offer from Auburn over a scholarship to Ole Miss. According to Auburn Undercover, an NIL deal from Auburn is expected to offset the cost of the lack of scholarship. His signing is expected to keep Auburn’s lineage of accurate kickers intact.

McGough was Auburn High’s leading scorer this season securing 105 points. He was 19-of-22 on field goal attempts and connected on six kicks of over 50 yards, including one of 60 yards.

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Walker White earns a spot on On3’s 2024 Quarterback Superlatives list

Auburn has paired its historical wide receiver haul with a solid quarterback in Walker White.

Auburn landed its best wide receiver class in history on Wednesday.

Hugh Freeze earned the signatures of five-stars [autotag]Perry Thompson[/autotag] and [autotag]Cam Coleman[/autotag] and four-stars [autotag]Malcolm Simmons[/autotag] and [autotag]Bryce Cain[/autotag] on the opening day of the early signing period. For a unit that needs immediate improvement, the addition of these four players will help Auburn in its effort to compete for an SEC championship.

The next question surrounding Auburn’s receiver unit is, “Who will throw them the football?”

[autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] has expressed his intent to keep Payton Thorne as Auburn’s quarterback for next season, but he also signed the quarterback of the future during the 2024 cycle in [autotag]Walker White[/autotag].

White is considered the No. 3 overall player from the state of Arkansas, and On3 considers White to be one of the top quarterbacks for the 2024 class.

In their 2024 Quarterback Superlative list, On3 gives White the title of “Most Physically Developed” quarterback of this year’s cycle.

At 6-foot-3.5 and around 220 pounds, Walker White has long-been one of the more physically-developed and impressive 2024 signal callers. White owns a big, muscular build that is more college ready than the vast majority of his peers. The Auburn signee is a physical, tough player who is able to shrug off defenders in the pocket and lower his shoulder to pick up extra yards as a runner. The On300 prospect led his Little Rock (Ark.) Little Rock Christian Academy team to a state title game appearance as a senior.

White is the No. 3 overall prospect from Arkansas for the 2024 cycle according to On3, and the No. 7 overall quarterback. He is apart of Auburn’s 2024 haul that ranks No. 7 overall according to On3’s rankings.

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Four-star WR Malcolm Simmons signs with Auburn

Malcolm Simmons is officially an Auburn Tiger.

[autotag]Malcolm Simmons[/autotag] is officially an Auburn Tiger.

The dynamic athlete signed his letter of intent with Auburn on Wednesday as a key member of Auburn’s impressive haul at wide receiver. The Tigers have signed five-stars [autotag]Perry Thompson[/autotag] and [autotag]Cam Coleman[/autotag] with four-star [autotag]Bryce Cain[/autotag] expected to be announced soon.

When Simmons committed to Auburn in July he was a three-star athlete but after a great season for Benjamin Russell and a strong showing at the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Classic, he shot up the ranking and is now a four-star prospect.

The 6-foot, 175-pounder caught 60 passes for 1,279 yards and 14 touchdowns in 12 games as a senior.

He is now the No. 240 overall player and No. 41 wide receiver in the 247Sports Composite ranking. The Alexander City product is also the No. 15 player in Alabama.

Stay up-to-date with the latest signing day news by checking out Auburn Wire’s early signing period tracker.

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Five-star WR Perry Thompson signs with Auburn

After weeks of speculation, Thompson has signed with Auburn over Alabama.

One of Auburn’s top commitments from the 2024 cycle has honored his commitment to the program.

[autotag]Perry Thompson[/autotag], a five-star wide receiver from Foley, Alabama, has officially signed his letter of intent with Auburn despite a late push from Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide.

A former Tide pledge, Thompson infamously flipped to Auburn during Big Cat Weekend in July. In a live video from fellow Auburn signee [autotag]Walker White[/autotag]’s Instagram page, Thompson announced his flip to Auburn, then celebrated by throwing Auburn head coach [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] into a pool.

Thompson is the No. 7 wide receiver for the 2024 cycle according to 247Sports, and is the No. 4 overall player from the state of Alabama. As a senior at Foley, he caught 53 passes for 718 yards and seven touchdowns.

Stay up-to-date with the latest signing day news by checking out Auburn Wire’s early signing period tracker.

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5 recruits that Alabama could flip on early national signing day

There is always room to be made for flipping some of the nation’s top prospects. On Wednesday, the Crimson Tide are hoping that several prospects will flip their commitments from other programs and sign with Alabama.

The wheels are always churning for the Alabama coaching staff on the recruiting trail. There is always work to be done.

In recent years, Alabama fans have realized that enough is never enough. Well, that is how it seems to the fans at least. The coaching staff continues to work effortlessly to flip some of the nation’s top recruits.

In 2023’s recruiting cycle, Alabama was able to flip five-star edge rusher Keon Keeley, five-star offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor, and three-star offensive guard Roq Montgomery.

Now, the Crimson Tide are working the phone lines with hopes of flipping several more recruits in the 2024 recruiting cycle.

Roll Tide Wire takes a look at five recruits that Alabama could potentially flip on early national signing day.

Auburn 5-star WR target Ryan Williams reclassifies to 2024

Auburn and Hugh Freeze have been pushing to flip the elite wide receiver.

After plenty of speculation, five-star Alabama wide receiver commit and key Auburn target [autotag]Ryan Williams[/autotag] has reclassified from the 2025 class to the 2024 class.

Despite jumping up a cycle, he is still one of the top players in the country. 247Sports ranks him as the No. 14 overall prospect and No. 4 wide receiver. The Saraland product is also the No. 3 player from Alabama in the 2024 rankings.

It’s easy to see why he has been such a big priority from wide receivers coach [autotag]Marucs Davis[/autotag], Williams was named the Alabama Gatorade Player of the Year and voted Mr. Football as a sophomore. In three varsity seasons, he accounted for over 4,400 all-purpose yards and 71 total touchdowns.

He will not sign in the early signing period later the month and instead will wait until February, giving himself a chance to take several visits. He told Auburn Undercover’s Christian Clemente that he plans to visit Auburn, Alabama, Texas, Georgia and LSU.

Auburn has already built one of if not the best wide receivers hauls in the country, having commitments from five-stars [autotag]Cam Coleman[/autotag] and [autotag]Perry Thompson[/autotag] as well as four-stars [autotag]Bryce Cain[/autotag] and [autotag]Malcolm Simmons[/autotag]. Williams would be the final piece in a talented group that would immediately push for playing time once it arrived on the Plains.

“That’s definitely important too because you can’t do it by yourself,” Williams said. “You need other pieces around you to take some of the load off like we have at Saraland. It makes the game easier.”

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