Flip watch: Alabama and Auburn football battling for blue-chip WRs a week before Early Signing Day

Alabama and Auburn football are both on the good and bad sides of a flip-watch for a pair of blue-chip receivers -- the Tigers are losing their grip on Perry Thompson's commitment, while Ryan Williams could ditch the Crimson Tide by February, his established timeframe for a decision.

As Rivals' Caleb Jones notes, AU is confident about its chances of keeping Thompson and poaching Williams from Nick Saban and Tommy Rees.

"There is some concern that Alabama is making a last-second push for Thompson, but Auburn feels confident that the Foley, Ala., wideout will stick with AU," Jones wrote. "Auburn is also pushing hard for Alabama commit Ryan Williams, who announced he was reclassifying earlier this week. He plans to take five official visits, but Alabama and Auburn appear as the only realistic destinations at this moment."

Ryan Williams flip deemed unlikely for Auburn football by one analyst

The Auburn Villager's Chris Mendoza believes a flip from Williams is unlikely for Auburn, but that's certainly not stopping Freeze from trying to flip his second receiver from the Tide's 2024 class.

“A flip from Williams is unlikely, but Auburn has not backed down from its pursuit of the Saraland speedster," Mendoza prefaced before saying, "A commitment from Williams would solidify this class of receivers as one of the greatest in program history.”

Perhaps it's too good to be true for Williams to leave Alabama and give Auburn a historically great class, but in many ways it feels like Thompson and Williams are linked -- and it wouldn't be a shock to see just one of them flip so they'd join their new team in a package deal.

Thompson has been an enthusiastic cheerleader, and perhaps recruiter, for Freeze's recruiting efforts, so a Williams flip feels far more likely than vice versa.