Hugh Freeze evaluates Auburn RB room, level of confidence in replacing Jarquez Hunter

The Auburn run game in 2024 was dominated by running back Jarquez Hunter, who rushed for 1,201 yards and eight touchdowns on 187 carries. No other Tiger running back totaled more than 52 carries, as the second most carries belonged to quarterback Payton Thorne (112).

That production will have to be made up this season for Hugh Freeze and Auburn, as Hunter was selected in the Fourth Round of the 2025 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams.

Freeze however revealed that he is high on his running back room this season, led by senior running back Damari Alston, during SEC Media Days. Last season, Auburn ranked 12th in the SEC in total rushing yards (1,986 yards) and seventh in the SEC in rush yards per game (165.5).

“I think 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. I’m also really excited about Jeremiah Cobb. He has breakaway speed, and then these young kids we have are talented too [Durell Robinson and Alvin Henderson]. But I think Damari is the most complete [player], as a pass protector, catcher and runner. And I’m high on Jeremiah [Cobb] also.”

Damari Alston is finally the guy at Auburn

Heading into his fourth and final season of college football at Auburn, Alston is finally ‘the guy’. The Atlanta native boasts 681 career rushing yards and five touchdowns on 130 carries. His best career game came in Auburn‘s 2023 Iron Bowl loss to Alabama, in which he rushed for 85 yards and a touchdown.

Along with Alston, Freeze is high on junior running back Jeremiah Cobb, redshirt sophomore running back Durell Robinson and freshman running back Alvin Henderson. Cobb boasts 314 career rush yards and two touchdowns, while Robinson is coming off a 731 rush yard and eight touchdown campaign at Connecticut last season.

Henderson was a four-star commit coming out of Elba (Elba, AL) and was tabbed as the No. 16 overall ranked running back in the Class of 2025.

The run game will be instrumental in Auburn‘s 2025 campaign, as the Tigers look to break their five-year streak of seasons with six or less wins. They open the season on August 29 at Baylor with their new look offense, led by Alston and Oklahoma transfer quarterback Jackson Arnold.