Bruce Pearl reacts to Hugh Freeze flipping two-five star prospects from Alabama, Georgia

Hugh Freeze has brought back the feeling of excitement to Auburn when it comes to recruiting. It’s the lifeblood of any good program, especially in the SEC. Bryan Harsin did not produce good results on the trail and when Freeze was hired, the Tigers instantly got back on the right track.

Now, the results are beginning to show. In just the past week, Auburn has been able to land the commitments of two 2024 On3 Industry Ranking five-star prospects. Linebacker Demarcus Riddick and wide receiver Perry Thompson are now in the point, pledging to play for Freeze.

To make matters better, both were flips from the program’s two biggest rivals. Riddick was previously committed to Georgia while Alabama was already in pursuit. And then Thompson had been committed to the Crimson Tide before announcing his change on Saturday.

Everyone around the Plains is catching onto what Freeze is building, even throughout the athletic department. Basketball head coach Bruce Pearl reacted to the two recruiting flips, praising the work of Freeze after landing two five-stars.

“It’s Freezing!,” Pearl said.

Riddick plays high school football at Clanton (AL) Chilton Co School, where he was a five-star prospect. He was the No. 31 overall recruit in the 2024 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Rankings, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

As for Thompson, he played high school football at Foley (AL) High School. He was the No. 29 overall recruit in the 2024 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Rankings, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

Pearl knows a thing or two about recruiting highly-rated prospects to Auburn. He has become one of the best recruiters in the SEC and results are paying off. The Tigers are consistently seeing their players selected at the top of the NBA Draft, most recently Walker Kessler and Jabari Smith.

Now, Freeze is looking to do the same thing. At the time of posting, Auburn has the No. 15 ranked class in the On3 2024 Industry Team Rankings. However, as On3’s Justin Hokanson points out, when you sort it by the recruit’s average rating, the Tigers are No. 4. The only teams ahead of them are Georgia, Alabama, and Ohio State.

Momentum ahead of the season on the recruiting trail is never a bad thing. Especially if Freeze gets some wins on the field, Auburn will continue to ascend in a positive direction.