Auburn captain Damari Alston leaves program amid 3-3 start, lack of usage

Auburn running back Damari Alston is no longer with the program, per head coach Hugh Freeze. Alston was in his fourth season with the Tigers and was a captain on the team.

“Damari failed to meet the expectations and standards of our program. We love him. Wish him the best,” Freeze said.

Alston only played in four games this season due to a shoulder injury he suffered in Auburn’s season-opener against Baylor. He will be able to redshirt to preserve a season of eligibility. In his four appearances this season, Alston recorded 32 carries for 128 yards and a touchdown. He also notched four catches for 28 total yards.

Alston had his best season at Auburn in 2023, when he tallied a career-high 320 yards and two touchdowns on 64 carries. Ahead of the 2025 campaign, Hugh Freeze spoke highly of Alston.

“Damari Alston is much better than any of us gave him credit for,” Freeze said. “He just was behind Jarquez [Hunter], and Jarquez had one of those bodies where he played a lot of snaps. So I don’t think you’ve gotten to see Damari’s full potential.”

After starting the season 3-0, Auburn has lost its last three games. Most recently, the Tigers fell 20-10 to Georgia at home.

In fairness, Auburn has had a grueling opening stretch in SEC play, with consecutive matchups against Oklahoma, Texas A&M and Georgia. The Tigers lost to the three ranked opponents by an average margin on 7.7 points per game.

In Auburn’s loss to Georgia on Saturday, Alston received seven carries for nine total yards. In contrast, running back Jeremiah Cobb recorded 12 carries for 50 yards.

With Alston sidelined for nearly half the season, Cobb has stepped into a leading role in Auburn’s backfield. He boasts a team-high 453 rushing yards and four touchdowns this season. He has 70 carries, while Alston has the second-most of any Auburn RB with 32.

With Alston parting ways with the program, Cobb will receive even more touches for the Tigers. No matter who has the ball in their hands, Hugh Freeze knows his team must find ways to begin winning tight games.

“It’s very clear that we find ways to not win football games and that’s what has to change,” Freeze said after the loss to UGA. “That locker room is a good enough football team to play with anyone and to win games.

“Creating that mentality that believes you’re going to and finding ways to do your assignment when it’s called on in critical moments like you did the entire first half are things we’ve got to get corrected if we want to experience the joy of winning these close, tough SEC football games. That’s really the way I see it.”