Socks, Not Schemes: Former Rebel WR A.J. Brown’s Ole Miss Commitment Came Down to Style
OXFORD, Miss. — You might expect a top football recruit to weigh coaching staffs, program prestige, or NFL pipeline when choosing a college. But for A.J. Brown, one of Ole Miss’ most electric playmakers of all time, the deciding factor in his recruitment came down to… socks.
Yes, socks.
During an appearance this week on Pardon My Take, the Pro Bowl receiver and Super Bowl champ revealed why he passed on powerhouse Georgia during his high-profile recruitment—and it had nothing to do with X’s and O’s.
“I didn’t choose Georgia because I don’t like wearing black socks. That may be crazy, but I don’t like wearing black socks. Putting on black socks with black cleats, it’s so hideous to me. When I put on white, I feel so fast, so smooth. It’s just something about it.”
AJ Brown on why he didn’t choose Georgia
AJ Brown didn’t commit to Georgia because they wear Black socks during games@rhoback pic.twitter.com/jzEtI3u9E5
— Pardon My Take (@PardonMyTake) August 6, 2025
It’s the kind of quote only A.J. Brown could deliver—and with that trademark smile.
Coming out of Starkville High School as a four-star recruit in the 2016 class, Brown had his pick of elite programs. Alabama, Cal, Mississippi State, Georgia, and Ole Miss all made the cut, but it was Hugh Freeze and the Rebels who ultimately won him over.
The Rebels’ 2016 signing class was one of the most star-studded in school history, featuring Brown, D.K. Metcalf, and five-star offensive tackle Greg Little. Brown took his final official visit to Oxford just days before National Signing Day—and the rest is history.
Over three seasons in a Rebel uniform, Brown terrorized SEC defenses, finishing his collegiate career with 2,984 receiving yards and 19 touchdowns. His sophomore and junior campaigns were particularly dominant, as he hauled in 160 catches for 2,572 yards and 17 scores across his final 24 games.
Now a staple in the Philadelphia Eagles’ offense, Brown remains focused as ever heading into another NFL season. Fresh off a Super Bowl 59 victory, he told SiriusXM Radio that success hasn’t changed his mindset.
“You know, the process is still the same,” Brown said. “I am very blessed and fortunate to achieve and to win the Super Bowl as a team, but the process of the daily grind stays the same. And so, once you kind of look at it through that lens, you’ve just got to go back to work. All that stuff is over with.”
“I like to say, you know, the Lombardi, she’s not loyal. She’s not loyal. So, we got to do what we got to do again, try to win her over again.”
As long as the Eagles don’t swap out white socks for black anytime soon, A.J. Brown will be ready to run it back.
Hotty Toddy.
Evelyn Van Pelt
Evelyn has covered sports for over two decades, beginning her journalism career as a sports writer for a newspaper in Austin, Texas. She attended Texas A&M and majored in English. Evelyn's love for Ole Miss began when her daughter Katie attended the university on a volleyball scholarship. Evelyn created the Rebel Walk in 2013 and has served as publisher and managing editor since its inception. Email Evie at: Evie@TheRebelWalk.com
