The Auburn football coaching staff is going hard when it comes to recruiting the class of 2024. The Tigers’ staff, led by head coach Hugh Freeze, are identifying their top targets and not backing down, even when those prospects may already be committed to another program.
One example is UGA commit Demarcus Riddick, who is the #5 player out of the state of Alabama and the #2 linebacker in the class of 2024. He committed to the Dawgs in November of last year, but has visited the Plains three times since January and maintaining contact with Auburn football staff. Though a flip is still uncertain, Riddick maintains that the Tigers are still in his top three.
Another top target is 5-star wide receiver Perry Thompson, from Foley, AL. Ranked as the #14 overall prospect and the #5 WR in the recruiting class of 2024, Thompson is the #2 player in the state and is committed to the Alabama Crimson Tide. However, he has visited Auburn four times so far this year and explained to Auburn Undercover why he continues to return to the Plains:
"“Really the coaches…building bonds with me and making me feel like family. Everything on campus is… feels like home.”"
Thompson also noted that he has a strong bond with Auburn football wide receivers coach Marcus Davis, and that they connect really well. In terms of what he’s looking forward to on his official visit this summer, Thompson told Auburn Undercover he is excited to see Auburn on a day-to-day basis and get to know what the coaches are like outside of football.
The elite wide receiver plans to make a final decision in December, and said it will likely come down to which program he feels he has the best relationship with. So far, he has only two official visits scheduled, one to Auburn and one to Alabama (June 2).