Four days before the State 7-on-7 tournament in College Station, Aeryn Hampton took to Twitter to make clear he’s not just a four-star wide receiver recruit. He’s an athlete.

Over his three-year run at Daingerfield, he’s proven just that.

Yes, Hampton did haul in 55 receptions for over 1,100 yards and 13 touchdowns. But he earned District Co-MVP honors for his contributions at defensive back as well, where he posted 57 tackles and three interceptions leading Daingerfield to the third round of the Class 3A playoffs.

But while his versatility as a two-way player has made him a sought after recruit for the past few years, Hampton knows he may have to pick one side of the ball when he gets to Power Five football.

“It’s going to be hard to do that (play both ways) because it’s hard for someone to learn both sides of the ball,” Hampton said. “If it happens, it happens. But if it doesn’t, I’ll be cool with it.”

Hampton’s recruitment has been one of the wilder ones in the Class of 2024, having decommitted from both Baylor and Texas previously. But he says it’s shutting down on July 7 when he’ll choose between reuniting with Texas or pledging to Alabama.

And it may be the decision that cements the athlete’s permanent position.

Alabama’s pitch is for Hampton to play slot receiver and double as a kick returner. They’ve had some help from former Longview standout and rising sophomore wideout Jalen Hale trying to court Hampton, but head coach Nick Saban has impressed the Daingerfield product on his visit. 

“When I was on my official visit, he was hands-on,” Hampton said. “He was always there around the recruits, like all of us. That’s really the relationship I have with him.

Meanwhile, Texas’s plans to deploy Hampton primarily as a nickel back in defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski’s 4-2-5 scheme, much like the role Jahdae Barron had in 2022.

But regardless of his choice, Hampton has one more year playing every snap on a Daingerfield team that’s posted a 12-0 district record over the previous two years.