Sports

Salty Bama Fans Cope After Losing 5-Star Commit To Hugh Freeze And Auburn

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Auburn head football coach Hugh Freeze speaks at SEC Media Days.

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Alabama fans aren’t happy seeing the Tide lose a five-star recruit to instate rival Auburn. On Saturday, wide receiver Perry Thomspon spurned Nick Saban in order to join Hugh Freeze’s first class on The Plains.

The news made headlines in the college football world as Thompson is the second five-star flip for the Tigers this week. Crimson Tide fans aren’t handling the decision well as they cope online.

Thompson had been a long time Alabama pledge, committing to the program in June of 2022. That year-long commitment changed following the arrival of Freeze in Auburn.

Considered a top 15 player in the country regardless of position, the wideout boasts five-star status at 24/7 Sports. He’s also rated as the second-best receiver in the nation after hauling in 87 catches for 1,059 yards and nine scores as a high school junior.

Thompson seemed destined to join Bama’s star-studded 2024 class, which currently ranks 14th in college football while holding 10 pledges from four- or five-star prospects.

Instead, he’ll join an Auburn group that is steadily climbing the recruiting standings.

The Tigers picked up four new recruits following a group recruiting event over the weekend, one of whom included another five-star flip from an SEC rival. Demarcus Riddick opted to leave the top-ranked Georgia cycle last Wednesday.

Riddick was the first domino to fall, sparking a string of commitments throughout the following days.

Prior to Thomspon’s flip, Riddick had been the most highly rated prospect in the class. Now, the wideout takes that spot following an epic decision which he documented on social media.

With Hugh Freeze in attendance, the Auburn recruit announced his intentions to play for the Tigers which sent the audience into a frenzy. His entourage then swiftly launched the head coach into a pool as they celebrated a monumental win over their rival.

While War Eagle supporters were ecstatic, the Roll Tide crowd grew salty.

A number of the pettier Alabama fans hopped online to post their reactions to the flip as they attempted to cope with losing a top player to five-win rival.

Many took immediate shots at Hugh Freeze’s past, which includes his getting canned at Ole Miss for recruiting violations.

“He can operate like old times under the new NCAA rules,” one fan said.

“Auburn is flipping Alabama commits? Can’t wait to see this suspension,” another person wrote.

“Let the investigation begin!” this follower exclaimed.

Others just claimed that Auburn offered more money, as all college football fans do when they lose a recruit.

Whatever the case, Thompson seems happy about his decision.

We’ll see if Hugh Freeze can continue to build on the momentum and continue the Tigers’ ascent up the recruiting ladder.