The A-List is AL.com’s ranking of the top 15 senior prospects in the state of Alabama. We will count down one each day until No. 1 is revealed Aug. 23.

Perry Thompson was already familiar with the attention that comes with being a consensus 5-star prospect, but he wasn’t prepared for the direct message that appeared in his social media inbox last month.

In language much too colorful to be repeated, former NFL superstar Antonio Brown wondered how Thompson could be considering a flip to Auburn after being committed to Alabama for more than a year.

The story was met with skepticism from people who wondered why a former player at Central Michigan would have any interest or knowledge about a high school receiver in Foley. But it was legitimate.

“He hit me up in my inbox after he talked to (former Alabama Heisman Trophy winner) Devonta Smith,” Thompson said. “I told him I was going to go where my heart says. He respected that.”

Thompson is the best prospect to come out of Foley High School since Julio Jones, who went to high school with Thompson’s mother, a star sprinter herself.

Much like Jones made it acceptable for an elite prospect to choose a developing program like Nick Saban’s at Alabama, Thompson could be a similar catalyst for Hugh Freeze and Auburn.

While visiting for Auburn’s Big Cat Weekend, Thompson decided to change his commitment from the Tide to the Tigers.

“I knew when I went for the visit there was about a 70 percent chance I was going to commit to Auburn. I just had to make sure I still felt the same home feeling again when I got there,” Thompson said. “It felt nice being on campus with the players, so I decided to flip.”

Thompson may be the first recruit in history to literally flip from one rival to another. His announcement was punctuated by a flip into the pool in front of coaches and other recruits. The reaction was predictable.

“Everybody went crazy,” Thompson said. “Even when I went out that night everybody on campus knew me. So, it was a great feeling.”

Before leaving for Auburn, Thompson has big goals for his senior year at Foley. The Lions’ record has improved from 2-7 to 5-5 to 7-4 and a Class 7A, Region 1 championship last season.

“Right now, what I’m concentrating on is getting everybody on the team with the same mindset and make sure we keep improving,” said Thompson, who caught 87 passes for 1,059 yards and nine touchdowns as a junior while also doubling as a defensive back. “We think this can be our best team yet.”

A-LIST NO. 4: PERRY THOMPSON, FOLEY

Position: Wide receiver

Height/weight: 6-4, 210

College status: Committed to Auburn.

Randy Kennedy’s scouting report: Perry Thompson is the best recruit to come out of Foley since Julio Jones. The comparisons are inevitable because they are both big wide receivers who play the game with passion. On the high school level, Thompson is as good as a safety as wide receiver.

THE 2024 A-LIST

No. 15: Josh Flowers, QB, Baker

No. 14: Bobby Pruitt, LB, Theodore

No. 13: JaCorey Whitted, TE, McAdory

No. 12: Kevin Riley, RB, Tuscaloosa County

No. 11: J’Marion Burnette, RB, Andalusia

No. 10: William Sanders, OL, Brookwood

No. 9: Jordan Ross, EDGE, Vestavia Hills

No. 8: Joseph Phillips, LB, Booker T. Washington

No. 7: Sterling Dixon, LB, Spanish Fort

No. 6: Isaia Faga, DL, Central-Phenix City

No. 5: Jeremiah Beaman, DL, Parker

No. 4: Perry Thompson, WR, Foley