Despite coming into Auburn as a highly-rated prospect, wide receiver Perry Thompson did not see the field much last season.

As the 2025 campaign continues to progress, Thompson is taking on a seemingly bigger role in the Tigers' offense each week.

Head coach Hugh Freeze is pleased with his development.

“I’m really proud of him," Freeze said. The guy, truthfully, when he got here had no idea how to practice. The talent was there. He knew how to run a go route, but he didn’t know how to take a release off of anything or what different coverages looked like." 

Freeze mentioned how other highly-touted prospects have similar issues at the beginning of their college careers.

"He wasn’t the only one," Freeze said. "Malcolm (Simmons) was that way, too. Cam (Coleman) was to a certain extent. Cam was more prepared, but to see him starting to enjoy playing the game and having success, that’s really what coaching is about is developing those guys. You have to give Marcus (Davis) and Coach (Maurice) Harris and Heath (Dedeaux), those guy who work with him every single day, a lot of credit." 

While Thompson has been improving with each game this season, he still has some work to do.

He dropped a crucial pass during Auburn's double-overtime loss against Missouri that could have played a role in changing the outcome.

"Nobody was more bothered on the sideline than him after he dropped that one on the second or third possession, and I love to see that," Freeze said. "He’s just getting better and better every single day. I have to remind myself that we’re playing these top teams very tough, but we’re still fairly young at some spot. He’s still a young kid, but I’m really excited to see his development.”

Thompson will aim to help Auburn get things figured out offensively and play a role in helping change the narrative surrounding the team this season.