With Jarquez Hunter leaving for the NFL after his four-year tenure at Auburn, the Tigers are searching for a new starting running back for the 2025 season. The team returns players like Damari Alston and Jeremiah Cobb, while also adding UConn transfer Durell Robinson and Alabama’s top running back recruit, Alvin Henderson. Additionally, Auburn secured the commitment of Omar Mabson, who reclassified from the 2026 class to 2025.
Despite the influx of talent, head coach Hugh Freeze acknowledged that the running back rotation remains a work in progress. “I don’t know the answer,” Freeze said. “That’s always a challenge. The running back room is one, particularly when you have talented kids; look at Damari and Cobb the last couple of years. There’s no question they have shown glimpses that they could have very good success running the football, but with Jarquez you wanted to get his 20 touches a game, and before you know it, the game is over, and you didn’t get the rotation that you hoped.”
Freeze noted that balancing touches among multiple talented backs is challenging. “It’s difficult and it’s hard… That’s a good problem to have, but it’s certainly an issue because they want touches and they want to play. I do think at this level everyone is going to carry five tailbacks, and it’s difficult to get all of them touches. We do think that’s a very talented and deep room.”
No. 1 edge plans official AU visit
Zion Elee, the No. 1 edge rusher in the 2026 recruiting class, visited Auburn’s campus last weekend as part of the Tigers’ Junior Day event, accompanied by several of his high school teammates. Although Elee is currently committed to Maryland, Auburn is making a strong push to flip him.
After his initial visit, Elee has already planned an official visit and is considering attending a spring practice in the coming months.
“What sticks out about Auburn is really, like, what they’re building,” Elee said, according to Auburn Rivals. “They’ve been a win-loss team every season, and they have a different culture now, they built a whole new defensive staff, they’re bringing more guys in, and what just sticks out is what they’re trying to build.”
Hugh Freeze shows love to Jackson Arnold in veiled message to outbound Auburn football QB room
Hugh Freeze expressed excitement about incoming QB Jackson Arnold during Senior Bowl practice in Mobile on Wednesday, offering high praise for his skill set. While he complimented Arnold, Freeze also subtly took a shot at the outgoing quarterback room.
“If you go back to his high school days, you don’t get to become the Gatorade Player of the Year without a great skill set,” Freeze said, according to AL.com. “And when I see the way he functions with the fundamentals of that position with what we want to do, it’s a pretty natural fit.
“We can restore whatever confidence he may have lost for whatever reasons. It’s not for me to say.
“Our receivers are like, ‘this is different.’ This ball is, it’s spinning the right way.”
Freeze has been open in critiquing his players, especially in the NIL era, where pushback is often minimal. Quarterback Payton Thorne, a frequent target of Freeze’s criticism, was the one Freeze relied on for his first two years, but Arnold’s praise came at Thorne’s expense. Freeze also noted the development of Hank Brown, Holden Geriner, and Walker White, suggesting the need for growth among Auburn’s quarterbacks.
With a talented wide receiver group and an incoming QB Arnold who has the potential to live up to his 5-star status, Freeze is hopeful that this system will lead to a more successful partnership without the regrets that came from previous QB struggles.
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