It's almost 24 hours later and the Bryce Perry-Wright-to-Texas A&M news is still shocking to many, including a majority of Clemson football fans who believed he would be a Tiger.
Clemson has produced some elite defensive linemen over the years and they held a crystal ball prediction and On3 futurecasts to land the five-star from Buford, Ga., on Saturday evening. He was choosing between Clemson, Texas, Texas A&M, and Miami, and it looked like the Tigers were the team to beat heading into the decision.
However, there was a surprising twist as Perry-Wright opted to commit to arguably the third-best option on the list (in terms of national title contenders).
Perry-Wright spurned Dabo Swinney and Clemson for Texas A&M and Mike Elko because, well, many Tiger fans believe he chose money over on-field results.
Fans were also rightfully salty about Perry-Wright calling Texas A&M "DLU".
Clemson produced more 1st Round DL talent in ONE draft than A&M has in the last TWO DECADES!!!!
— Pope Clemson I (@PopeClemson1st) July 5, 2025
*2023: Myles Murphy, Bryan Bresee
*2018: Cle, Dex, Christian
A&M
2005-'25: Myles Garrett
Two family members have played here, no one has recruited him harder, and I think it’s clear he has the best relationship with Clemson.
— Right Field Renegades (Klubnik’s Army) (@RfRenegades) July 5, 2025
We aren’t the biggest offer though and it’s life changing $. He’s only 18, hard to imagine what you’d do with this $$ out there.
Clemson played their cards near perfectly for BPW. There’s a line in the sand & I think the Tigers went past it, but it ended up still not being enough. Kid will be a really good player & it’s a significant loss on the trail, but in this instance you tip your cap & move on.
— Tiger Commenter (@TigerCommenter) July 5, 2025
While Tiger fans are still shocked by this decision a day later, it doesn't take away from the great class that Dabo has put together in 2026 already. He has a top-10 class, and he's still in on several talented prospects, including a couple of other five-stars who were on campus for official visits last month.
It's going to hurt to think about Clemson losing a top defensive lineman and attainable five-star to Texas A&M but at least the Tigers have a national title to pursue in 2025 while the Aggies are still rebuilding.
And as for the "DLU" distinction, there's just no way Texas A&M gets that label ahead of Clemson. That's just laughable.