In the day and age of the NCAA transfer portal, it has become relatively normal for athletes to part ways with a school to look for a better opportunity elsewhere. 5-star wide receiver Perry Thompson came to Auburn football last year as a true freshman with high hopes.
A star out of high school, all eyes were on Thompson and the other members of the Freeze Four, wide receivers Bryce Cain, Malcolm Simmons, and Cam Coleman. Thompson ended the year with only five receptions for 126 yards and one touchdown while teammates Simmons and Coleman became a larger part of the offense alongside veteran transfer KeAndre Lambert-Smith.
Thompson had every opportunity to cut and run, especially with the caliber of transfers the Tigers were planning to bring to the position group. Instead, the rising sophomore decided to use his freshman season as a learning opportunity and soak up all the information he could from Lambert-Smith.
"It was very humbling," he said, per Auburn Undercover. "You come out of high school being a star -- I had to have patience with myself. I knew I had a good person in front of me, and I looked at him as a role model and picked up on a lot of his traits, a lot of things he did. And I put that into my game this year."
Thompson did not go through spring practices last year, and believes his time spent training these past few months has taken his game to the next level ahead of his sophomore season.
"I've got the system down pat. Last year it was a lot of my head spinning -- I'm here, there, everywhere. Now I've got everything down pat, so I feel very good going into the season."
The Tigers will end their spring training this Saturday, A-Day, with an open practice in Jordan-Hare Stadium.