Making three predictions for Auburn running backs

The summer offseason is in full swing, and Auburn Live is trying to survive it with our Position Week breakdowns. By the time all eight units (QB, RB, OL, WR, DT, Edge, LB, DBs) at Auburn have been covered, media days will have passed, training camp will have arrived, and the return of football inside Jordan-Hare Stadium will be just around the corner. We’re rolling out our positional weeks with the first group up: Auburn’s scholarship running backs.

AUBURN — The Auburn running back room is poised to be one of the stronger groups on the team under new head coach Hugh Freeze and returning running backs coach Carnell Williams.

“I feel like us as a whole, we’re so connected,” sophomore Damari Alston said during the spring. “Ever since, we’ve been going, helping each other out on and off the field. The running back room is at its best right now and will keep getting better.”

Alston joins Jarquez Hunter and his 1,200-plus career yards and 10 touchdowns, the speedy Brian Battie, and one of the nation’s best high school backs in Jeremiah Cobb to form a formidable stable of running backs entering the 2023 season. Auburn Live is continuing its first position week of the summer by mapping out the career so far for the Auburn running back room.

PREVIOUSLY

FIVE QUESTIONS SURROUNDING THE AUBURN RUNNING BACK ROOM

HOW THEY GOT HERE: MAPPING OUT THE CAREER PATH OF AUBURN’S RBS SO FAR

EXAMINING 2023 AUBURN RB NIL VALUATIONS

PROJECTING AUBURN’S RB DEPTH CHART

Auburn Live is putting a bow on running backs week, and we’re making three predictions involving one of the more talented positions on the field for the Tigers.

Prediction 1: Jarquez Hunter and rushing touchdowns

If Jarquez Hunter plays in all 12 games, Hunter will record the most rushing touchdowns in a season since Kerryon Johnson’s 18 rushing touchdowns in 2017. Since then, Boobie Whitlow in 2019, and Tank Bigsby in 2021 and 2022 rushed for 10 touchdowns each. Going back further, Johnson rushed for 11 touchdowns in 2016, Peyton Barber went for 13 in 2015, Cameron Artis-Payne went for 13 in 2014, going all the way back to Tre Mason’s phenomenal 23 rushing touchdowns in 2013. Reaching the 18 touchdowns by Johnson in 2017 seems like a tall task, but if the Tigers’ rebuilt offensive line comes together, maybe it’s possible? Certainly, Hunter topping the 10 rushing touchdowns mark seems like a good bet, again, assuming Hunter is cleared and available to start the season against UMass.

Prediction 2: Primary backs will combine for 1,800-plus rushing yards

Between Hunter, Battie and Alston, the Tigers’ trio of backs will combine for 1,800-plus rushing yards. The last time Auburn’s primary trio of running backs combined for over 1,800 yards was the 2016 season when Kam Pettway, Kerryon Johnson and Kam Martin combined for over 2,400 yards. Since, the Tigers’ top three backs have pushed the 1,800-yard mark on multiple occasions, but not topped it. What will it take to reach that mark? It would likely look something like Hunter gaining 1,100 yards, with Battie and Alston combining for the other 700-plus yards. That’s 91 yards per game from Hunter during the regular season, with Battie and Alston contributing 30 yards rushing per game each. Much depends on Auburn’s rebuilt offensive line, and the Tigers’ ability to threaten defenses downfield and keep defensive boxes from being loaded with defenders, but the trio topping that 1,800-yard mark seems very doable.

Prediction 3: Jeremiah Cobb will push for RB2 duties

While Battie and Alston are ahead of Cobb on the depth chart because of college experience and simple understanding of schemes and expectations, it’s not because Cobb lacks the talent. At some point this season, we will hear Cobb’s name in relation to making a push for more playing time and pushing Battie and Alston for real, significant carries. Cobb accounted for over 8,000 all-purpose yards during his high school career and rushed for over 2,000 yards during his senior season at Montgomery Catholic. At 5-foot-11 and 190-plus pounds, and with speed to burn, Cobb possesses everything it takes to make an impact as a true freshman in the SEC.

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