5-star Alabama flip to be the AJ Brown of Auburn’s offense
![5-star Alabama flip Perry Thompson is expected to be the AJ Brown of Hugh Freeze and Philip Montgomery's Auburn football offense Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports 5-star Alabama flip Perry Thompson is expected to be the AJ Brown of Hugh Freeze and Philip Montgomery's Auburn football offense Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/9eb1b77c0aaef01743455c1cc8b8d9d70e0ec46c14bfe64747b81b72d415ee1f.jpg)
5-star Alabama flip Perry Thompson, who de-committed from the Crimson Tide and committed to the Auburn football program on July 29 during Big Cat Weekend, told On3’s Hayes Fawcett that Hugh Freeze and Co. are expecting him to play the same role AJ Brown did for Freeze’s Ole Miss Rebels in 2016.
“Love the coaching staff and the energy everyone brings. I’m really close to Freeze and coach Davis,” Thompson prefaced before saying, “We’ve built a pretty strong relationship. They see me as an AJ Brown type in their offense. A lot of one on one matchups and just getting the ball in my hands to make plays.”
Brown didn’t break out in Oxford, Mississippi until Freeze was gone, but the No. 5 receiver in the 2016 recruiting class was one of the current Tigers HC’s biggest talent grabs at the position throughout his entire coaching career.
Perry Thompson wants to create a legacy with Auburn football
Thompson understands the assignment as it pertains to being a member of Auburn football — telling On3 that he wants to create a legacy on the Plains and be a game-changer in the program’s history.
“I can go build that legacy at Auburn,” Thompson prefaced before saying, “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 fit 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.”
It cannot be overstated enough: Thompson was born to be an Auburn Tiger. And it’s likely he’s also going to make it great to be an Auburn Tiger.
And just think, if the Boise native was still in charge of the program, yet another top in-state receiver would be in the clutches of Nick Saban’s offensive coaching staff.