Auburn has a history of success at the running back position. 1 running back in 2021. Thankfully for them, they have Tank Bigsby, one of the best running backs in the nation, and a quality backup in Jarquez Hunter. Thatmakes fora lot of unhappy faces when ranking the 10 best. Positional coach Cadillac Williams has a bevy of talented backs with a variety of skill sets but they have little experience. The 5-foot-8, 190-pound back also showed off the elusiveness, athleticism and physical play style we saw from him on a limited basis as a true freshman in 2019 he produced two of the 15 highest single-game broken tackle rates from the 2020 season and ranked eighth in the Power Five in percentage of runs that picked up at least 3.0 yards after contact (48%). Here's an overview of Auburn's 2023 running back room (scholarship players only) as it currently sits: Jarquez Hunter, Jr. Hunter took a dip in YPC as his Why he's here: He doesn't have the gargantuan rushing numbers some of these players in this list do, but when Fournette was healthy, there was no running back more talented this decade. Accomplishments: Doak Walker Award (2018, 2019); Unanimous first-team All-American (2018, 2019); AP Big Ten Newcomer of the Year (2017); Big Ten Running James Brooks (1977-80) Brooks played during a relative down era in Auburn history, but that doesnt diminish his accomplishments at all; in fact, it may bemore impressive that he piled up big totals on teams that hovered around .500. The 6-foot, 204-pound freshman was the third-highest-graded ball carrier in the FBS behind Javonte Williams and Khalil Herbertbefore suffering an injury in Week 12 against Tennessee. Robinson was a five-star recruit in the 2020 class, according to 247Sports, and dazzled down the stretch of his true freshman campaign. Having a back with Borghi's receiving chops and speed is a huge plus. The best back in the SEC resides in Auburn, AL and the 2nd best back (Chris Rodriguez Jr of Kentucky) isnt on Auburns schedule. New head coach Steve Sarkisian ought to have a lot of fun incorporating Robinsons skills into his offense. Vaughn can take defenders' souls in the open field with his blend of quickness and agility. Tucker Frederickson (1962-64) Although he barely had more than1,000 yards for his career a number playersregularly top in their freshman season these days Frederickson is considered one of the most complete backs in Auburn history. What I Dont Like: As much as Bigsby has shined on the field over the last two seasons, the biggest question will be if the star running back can stay healthy. After dealing with injuries as a junior, Jackson took over the football world in 1985. Gurley nearly cracked 1,000 yards in all three of his seasons before leaving early for the NFL. Georgia rallies, survives on missed field goal to beat Ohio State, reach national title game. Find the rest of PFFs top returning college players series here: Ealy was a 2019 four-star recruit who didn't put up monstrous box score numbers in 2020, but he consistently showed up and got the job done. The latest in the sports world, emailed daily. List of Auburn Tigers in the NFL Draft. Tank Bigsby is the main threat to supplant Williams as the lead back. Keenan Britt's recruitment is a while away he's a member of the 2026 recruiting class. He left school as the Tigers all-time rushing leader, although hes been passed by the top two names on our list since then. Here's an overview of Auburn's 2023 running back room (scholarship players only) as it currently sits: Hunter took a dip in YPC as his freshman season progressed, but he broke out this past season with three hundred-yard performances over the final three games of the year - including two huge games against Texas A&M and Alabama. Georgia rallies, survives on missed field goal to beat Ohio State, reach national title game. Newton continues to electrify the game of football in the NFL with the Carolina Panthers. When 1999 rolled around, Leard returned to the helm and helped guide the Tigers for two more seasons. Three seasons of at least 1,500 yards at Oregon, the pint-sized tailback led the nation in rushing and rushing touchdowns as a sophomore despite missing the season opener due to suspension and finished second in Heisman voting that season. Why he's here: Sixth on college football's all-time rushing list as one of only seven players to surpass 6,000 career yards, Taylor eclipsed the 2K barrier twice and was 23 yards from doing so as a freshman in 2017. The 5-foot-5 running back made it known from the get-go that he is going to be in the conversation for the best dual-threat back in the country. All-purpose threats. Bo won the Heisman trophy with a monster year, posting 1,786 yards and 17 touchdowns, both Auburn records at the time. He scored the game-winning touchdown against Alabama as a freshman to start working his way to legendary status, then topped 1,200 yards as a sophomore, averaging 7.7 yards per carry. Auburn has a history of success at the running back position. 2 in completions, completion percentage, passing yardage and completions. Why he's here: Not bad for a ballcarrier who only started in the Wisconsin backfield his final two years, right? Ben Leard had an on-again-off-again love affair with the Auburn fanbase. How they use this talent - and more specifically how often they use that talent - will be determined over the course of the next nine months. Best game of career: Vs Alabama State (9/27/21) - 10 carries, 38 yards, 1 touchdown, The best quarterbacks available in the transfer portal, Baumhowers to provide NIL deal for Auburn's offensive line, ESPN analyst believes this transfer quarterback would fit well in Hugh Freeze's offense, Offensive lineman Connor Lew flips from Miami to Auburn, Coastal Carolina QB Grayson McCall taking visit to Auburn. He didnt give show-stopping performances, but he won Auburn a lot of ballgames. Bo Jackson (1982-85) Jackson isnt just one of the greatest running backs in SEC history, hes also one of the conferences best athletes, period. Ironically, after bursting onto the scene with 1,547 yards rushing as freshman in 2014, Chubb was averaging 8.1 yards per carry as the nation's leading rusher through five games before injuring his knee at Tennessee. Auburns all-time rushing leader is one of the best to ever do it in He has breakout written all over him for the 2021 season. Only one player, Ohio State's Archie Griffin, has won the award twice. Frederickson was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1994. Vaughn can take defenders' souls in the open field with his blend of quickness and agility. He also ran for 38 career touchdowns and was a weapon out of the backfield, adding 74 career receptions for 767 yards. He led the country in yards per game at 162.75 almost 15 more than Henry. Jarquez Hunter should be the lead man in the backfield next season, but what does the RB room look like. College Football at Sports-Reference.com Blog and Articles. 8 spot for passing touchdowns and passing yardage. Sullivan had his best season in 1971 passing for over 2,500 yards and throwing 20 touchdowns. The Auburn Tigers football program of Auburn University has had 290 players drafted into the National Football League since the league began holding drafts in 1936. He ended the year with the sixth-highest rate of runs that resulted in a gain of 10-plus yards (21.5%). His 2004 performance landed him at the No. 87,451), NFL/AFL stats for Auburn Tigers players at Pro-Football-Reference, Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Wednesday, January 18, 11:40AM. By the time he left school after his four-year career, Williams owned the schools rushing touchdowns record, was tied for the most touchdowns in a single season and had the second-most rushing yards in school history. Hunter can do that in this offense, where most of the attention will be focused on Tank Bigsby. 5.) He holds Auburn records for career rushing yards and yards per game and still holds the SEC record for yards per attempt (min. Robinson runs violently and will be one of the toughest guys to bring down in 2021 he averaged over 4.0 yards after contact per attempt and broke 23 tackles in 2020. Your account has an invalid email address. He led the Big Ten in total yards (rushing, receiving, return) and was the Heisman frontrunner that fall exiting the first two months of the season en route to his second straight conference player of the year honor. The 2021 college football season kicks off in just over 100 days, and we at PFF are here to get you ready for it. 9 position for the Tigers with all-time yardage and completions. Why he's here: It didn't feel right excluding Oregon's all-time leading rusher from this list, nor James who was equally vital during the Ducks' rise to national relevance. Fans should be excited about Hunter's return and should expect him to continue to improve upon the standard that he has set as an explosive, shifty back that's hard to bring down. Career stats:592 carries, 3,961 yards, 43 TDs; 58 catches, 449 yards, TD, Accomplishments: Big Ten Most Valuable Player (2015); Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year (2015); Second-team All-American (2015); First-team All-Big Ten (2015); AmecheDayne Running Back of the Year (2015); CFP national champion (2015); Big Ten champion (2014); James E. Sullivan Award (2014). Heading into the new year and following the same script with our quarterbacks power rankings, we've slotted college football's Top 10 running backs of the decade, a who's who list of superstars with a heavy emphasis on national relevance. The fifth-year senior played in 26 games over four seasons and served primarily as a third-down back and goal-line option. Auburns all-time rushing leader is one of the best to ever do it in college football and it should come as no shock that he was included in ESPNs ranking of the 100 best running backs over the last 60 years (subscription required). Career stats:3,523 yards rushing, 24 TD; 219 yards receiving, 5 TD; 5,596 all-purpose yards. As you can see, the numbers are near idential to James, though Freeman played one more season and had considerably more carries. The perfect weapon in the Ducks' NASCAR offense, James often touched it three or four consecutive plays and would wear down linebackers trying to wrap him. Indiana's depleted running backs room got some help on Saturday when former Auburn back Shaun Shivers committed to the Hoosiers. Cameron Newton is the only Heisman winner that has also won a national title for the Tigers. If you feel like you're losing control over your gambling experience, call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ, PA, WV), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-888- 532-3500(Virginia) 1-800-522-4700 (NV, TN), 1-800-522-4700 (CO, TN), 1-855-2CALLGA (IL), 1-800-270-7117 (MI). He opened his Bulldogs career with 1,385 at the time joiningHerschel Walker as the only true freshmen to reach 1,000. He finished with 989 yards as a sophomore and 911 in six games as a junior, when he emerged as a Heisman favorite. Defensive line has been a point of emphasis for Auburn in the 2024 recruiting class. Borghi was only able to play in one game this past season due to injury. Auburn running back Tank Bigsby (4) runs the ball during Auburn football A-Day spring game at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala., on Saturday, April 17, 2021. He had almost 2,000 all-purpose yards as a junior in high school and has the potential to be a solid option in years to come for Auburn. Adam Sparks, Adam Cole Tank Bigsby has made it official: Hes going pro. Why he's here: One of the most special all-purpose players in college football history, Barkley did it all for the Nittany Lions who found creative ways to get his hands on the football as a junior in 2017. For those who dont know, running backs actually do matter in college football. This Nebraska football roster has famous All-Americans, Nebraska running backs in the NFL, and Cornhuskers players in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. As we look back on the players who defined greatness in the backfield from 2010 to now, determining what gave them the edge over others whether that be total yards, touchdowns or impact was an extreme challenge given the host of options to pick from. Here is a look at how the talented group sorts itself out. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. In 2015, Henry had the greatest single season in SEC history breaking Herschel Walkers record, winning the Heisman and leading the Tide to a national championship. The offensive line in front of him was exceptional in 2020, but so was Allgeiers vision. No College Football Hall of Fame eligibility for Stetson Bennett? Statistics, wins, the awards circuit all that stuff matters here. Deuce Vaughn took some souls yesterday pic.twitter.com/MARSIbptuA, Anthony Treash (@PFF_Anthony) December 6, 2020. Freeman could do a little bit of everything, whether you needed a short-yardage burst on third down or a game-breaking big-gainer. There have been several comps thrown out for Cobb, and one many recruiting experts come back to is Alvin Kamara, given his ability to catch passes out of the backfield and turn anything into a big gain. 4 position with total passing yardage and completions in his career with the Tigers. He is now the head coach for the Samford University Bulldogs. Still, we shouldn't forget who Borghi was back in 2019 when he was fully healthy: a player with immense speed and one of the top receiving backs in the entire country. Carnell Cadillac Williams (2001-04) Paired with another future pro in Ronnie Brown, Cadillac was half of one of the best rushing duos in SEC history. A prerequisite needs tweaking for him and others, Damieon George Jr., former Alabama OL, announces SEC East commitment, SEC Shorts releases final 2022 season report cards for every team, Devin Willock's family lawyers call press conference to discuss legal action, Ole Miss reportedly loses four players to the transfer portal, Caesars Sportsbook Ohio Promo Code: Back Cavs, NBA Action with $1,500 First Bet on Caesars, BetMGM Ohio Promo Code: Score the Sign Up Bonus This Week, Kirk Herbstreit explains how Joe Burrow's confidence has 'changed everything for the Bengals', Florida vs. Texas A&M Underdog fantasy player over/under picks, Rapid Reaction: Back-to-back! Auburn has a long history of producing elite running backs but none were better than Bo Jackson. As a matter of policy, Sports Reference only reports the results of games as played on the field. What we know for sure is that Auburn will have a new lead back after JaTarvious Whitlow decided to transfer from the program after leading the team in rushing the past two seasons. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. His 1,786 yards were the second-most in SEC history at the time, behind Hershal Walkers 1,891 yards in 1981. He remains the only professional athlete to be selected as an All-Star in both baseball and football. BYU produced an impressive list of breakout players in 2020; among them was running back Tyler Allgeier, who walked on to the team back in 2018 and spent most of the 2019 season at off-ball linebacker. WebMason had back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in 2012 and 2013, when he led Auburn to the BCS championship game. Please check your email for a confirmation. The former SEC Newcomer of the Year eclipsed the 1,000 rushing yard mark this past season, and he is poised for a monster season in 2022. 1 min read. Four dozen SEC running backs have rushed fora1,000 yards in the past decade. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. Career stats (2014-17): 947 carries, 5,621 yards, 60 TDs; 79 catches, 814 yards receiving, 4 TDs, Accomplishments: First-team All-Pac-12 (2015); Second-team All-Pac-12 (2014, 2017); Pac-12 Offensive Freshman of the Year (2014); Pac-12 career rushing touchdowns leader (60). He had more than 1,100 yards in his final six games, including a combined 499 in the SEC and BCS championship games (and an SECCG record 304 yards against Missouri that year). Auburn looks to extend its winning streak to four games on Wednesday on the road at LSU. The 6-foot, 204-pound freshman was the third-highest-graded ball carrier in the FBS behind. Travis Tidwell was one of the best quarterbacks in Auburn history. His stats are not over the top in the passing game, as passing was a small portion of the T-formation that was the Auburn offense of the day. There is a considerable amount of talent that Hugh Freeze and Philip Montgomery are going to have at their disposal. Now that Bigsby has declared for the NFL Draft, the Tigers have to reevaluate their running back room - which, thankfully, is not barren like some of the other position groups on the roster. Yes, Chubb was better than Gurley (3,285 career rushing yards, 36 TDs). Cook was a two-time All-American with the Seminoles and even against stacked fronts, was rarely held under 100 yards. D.J. He ran for 1,816 yards that final season, breaking Bo JacksonsAuburn record. Find out more. Our exclusive database, featuring the most in-depth collection of NCAA player performance data. Featuring some of the greatest college running backs of all That streak ended in 2018 and it took until this past season for the Tigers to return to the 1K status. (Allen Eyestone / Palm Beach Post / USA TODAY Network). Robinson has been a key backup over the last four years and is set to take on a starting role in his super senior season this fall. Tidwell is also famous for his 27-yard touchdown run that happened in 1949 against Mississippi State. Henry scored at least one touchdown in every game that season, finishing with a nation-leading 28 rushing scores. 3. Do you have a blog? Or write about sports? Hunter has also proven to be the best pass-catcher out of the backfield over the past couple of seasons. We support responsible gambling. A star baseball player who ended up playing both sports professionally, Jackson was a force on the gridiron for Auburn. A former freelance journalist from Philadelphia, Brett has made the trek down to SEC country to cover the greatest conference in college football. Travis Tidwell was one of the best quarterbacks in Auburn history. We do not target any individuals under the age of 21. The 5-foot-8, 165-pound back shook defenders on the regular, recording the eighth-most broken tackles per attempt in the FBS (0.33). Over those 2013 and 2014 seasons with the Badgers, Gordon rushed for 4,196 yards, including a jaw-dropping 2,500-plus yard season as a junior that led to him leaping to the NFL. What I Like: Where to begin here? What I Like: Hunter made the most of his opportunities early in the season, rushing for 447 of his 593 yards on the year in the first five games. 5. He came back with consecutive 1,000 yards seasons to etch his name in the Georgia football record books. Lloyd Nix was one of the best position switches in Auburn football history. Stan White is the leader for the Tigers all time with completions and passing yards. Power Rankings are PFFs NCAA power ratings based on weekly player grades in each facet of play. After beginning the season with four healthy tailbacks and one of the SECs best fullbacks, the Tigers c Why he's here: Cook averaged 6.5 yards per carry during his career in Tallahassee as one of the most lethal offensive weapons in program history. Disappearing in big game situations is not an ideal trait for running backs, so Hunter needs to step up in big time situations in order to take another step forward in this backfield. Career stats:2,979 yards rushing, 32 TD; 249 yards receiving, TD. He doesnt have electrifying speed, but he is elusive and fights through contact as well as anyone. His stats are not over the top in the passing game, as passing was a small portion of the T-formation that was the Auburn offense of the day. 5 all time in touchdown passes, completions and passing yardage. He just missed as a junior, when he gained 979 on 194 carries while splitting the workload with Derrick Henry. Auburn has a long history of producing elite running backs but none were better than Bo Jackson. Although, there may be someone on the depth chart that could potentially take those passing snaps away from Hunter. https://auburnwire.usatoday.com/lists/auburn-football-ranking-the-running-backs-on-2020-depth-chart/, Auburn offers brother of former Tigers player, SEC Basketball standings entering week of Jan. 17, Ranking every SEC recruiting class after early signing day, Auburn vs. LSU: Stream, injury report, broadcast info for Wednesday's game, A look at Auburn Football's 2023 schedule, College Football analyst calls Auburn's transfer haul "the best class in the SEC", Behind Enemy Lines: Auburn-LSU preview with LSU Wire's Tyler Nettuno, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Auburn running back Tank Bigsby (4) runs the ball during Auburn football A-Day spring game at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala., on Saturday, April 17, 2021. On the field, the former four-star running back had a breakout season during his senior year at Woodward Academy in Georgia. Williams will need to be more consistent to stay as the lead back because he will certainly be pushed by the rest if the running backs. He is the clear favorite to claim the title of No. In years that Auburn has had a dominant rushing attack, there has always been a change of pace style rusher that helps prevent injury and provides a spark to the offense. Cameron Newton was the most electric player in college football in his one season with the Tigers. Auburn learned an important lesson last year. He will have one year of eligibility in Bloomington. His rehab going well, all signs point to Chubb making another run at 1,000-plus yards in 2016. WebVisit ESPN to view the Auburn Tigers team stats for the 2021 season. Only Vaughn and North Carolinas Michael Carter earned grades above 85.0 as both a runner and receiver in 2020. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Workhorses. He was electric and showed a leadership quality that is nearly impossible to match. He caught six passes for 128 yards, including a 78-yard reception which was the longest of the season, and had 12 rushes for 94 yards. Listing the 10 best quarterbacks in history is never an easy task with so much talent that has taken the field. One of the biggest problems Auburn has had with star running backs is running them into the ground, Kerryon Johnson being the biggest example. What we know for sure is that Auburn will Contact/Follow us@TheAuburnWireon Twitter, and like our page onFacebookto follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. He has an almost identical frame to Hunter (5-foot-10, 205 pounds) but has a very different running style - his one-cut bruiser style approach to the game makes him a difficult matchup for opponents as a rotational back - there is no fun in trying to hold Jarques Hunter down and then immediately having to account for a back that does not shy away from contact. Or, more specifically, the second half of that season, when he carried Auburn to an SEC title and a national title game appearance. Tank is going to steamroll through defenses this fall. He went on to a successful NFL career, making four Pro Bowl appearances. Let's take a look at the running back room for Auburn in 2022. Collins left after his junior year with 3,703 career rushing yards second all-time in program history. Burger carries a record of 19-3-2. This may be the most talent Auburn has had in the running back room in some time but it also faces the most questions. Tank Bigsby has been one of the best running backs in the Southeastern Conference over the past two seasons. Borghi tied for first in the nation with 26 first down/touchdown receptions in Mike Leachs Air-Raid attack in 2019. // Okla. / Texas // ND // USC. Auburns Tank Bigsby (4) runs with the ball against Alabama on Nov. 26 in Tuscaloosa. He topped 100 yards five consecutive times and was averaging 8.1 yards per carry before his season-ending knee injury against Tennessee. It was the SECs third-best single-season rushing total at the time. He also is quietly found at the No. The Mississippi native brings a unique mix of size and speed that complimented nicely to the Auburn offense. His mark since has been broken, twice, first by Richardson in 2011 and last season by Derrick Henry. He left Alabama with 3,322 yards and 37 rushing touchdowns. 1. He also averaged 10.5 yards per reception and caught two touchdown passes. The Iowa State running back has the explosiveness to ramp up that big-run rate and proved on a number of occasions that he has an uncoachable ability to make something out of nothing. Few. Yes, you read that correctly: Allgeier had only 26 career carries entering the 2020 season but still managed to finish the year with a 93.1 rushing grade, the second-best behind Javonte Williams. Gore finished with the 18th-best rushing grade in the FBS (86.8) as a true freshman this past season. After battling with Daniel Cobb for his starting position, Campbell led the Tigers on one of the most magical seasons in school history, the undefeated 2004 season. Georgia destroys TCU to repeat as national champs, Rapid Reaction: LSU dominates Purdue in short-handed Citrus Bowl wipeout, Rapid Reaction: Mississippi State swings its sword, wins ReliaQuest Bowl on last-second field goal, Rapid Reaction: Unreal! Auburn went undefeated during the 1993 season, led by White. He earned an 80.6 receiving grade for the year, making him one of two running backs to generate a grade above 80.0 as both a receiver and a runner. Some school's results have been altered by retroactive NCAA penalties. Williams was second on the team with 84 carries for 400 yards and two touchdowns and likely has a leg up on the other young backs. From 2010 to now, here's a look at the 10 best Power 5 running backs of the decade in college football: Career stats (2009-11): 771 carries, 5,082 yards, 53 TDs; 51 catches, 586 yards, 4 TDs; PR TD, Accomplishments: Heisman Trophy finalist (2010); First-team All-American (2010, 2011); First-team All-Pac-10/Pac-12 (2010, 2011); Doak Walker Award (2010); Pac-10/Pac-12 champion (20092011); Pac-10 Offensive Freshman of the Year (2009). Career stats:1,079 yards rushing, 8 TD; 228 yards receiving, 2 TD. Career stats: 4,303 yards rushing, 43 TD; 272 yards receiving, 2 TD. Sign up for the Auburn Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. Sullivan to Beasley was one of the most well-known calls in college football during the early 1970s. WebHis final year on campus is what makes him one of the best backs in SEC history. How many running backs can say they returned to college football's toughest conference after a season-ending ACL injury just as dominant? Whether or not Freeze and Montgomery end up giving him any serious playing time is to be determined over the course of the offseason, but Jackson has been praised for his work ethic - hence hisreception of a scholarship. 1984 NFL supplemental draft of USFL and CFL players, "1984 NFL Supplemental Draft of USFL and CFL Players", Chris Woods NFL Football Statistics | Pro-Football-Reference.com, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_Auburn_Tigers_in_the_NFL_Draft&oldid=1091251999, Lists of National Football League draftees by college football team, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 3 June 2022, at 04:12. Williams made the decision to return for his senior year and helped lead Auburn to a 13-0 season and an SEC championship, although the Tigerswere pushed out of the BCS title game by Oklahoma and Southern California. All signs point towards yes, and there's reason to believe that OC Philip Montgomery and HC Hugh Freeze will be excited about using him. If Auburn is going to succeed on offense this year, Bigsby will be one of the biggest reasons why. One of the league's best running backs during his heyday, Alexander averaged 1,500 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns per season from 2001-05. 247Sports noted in their analysis that "notone physical trait that stands out among the rest but (Cobb) possesses a well-rounded skill set and has a good feel for the position.". The Badgers are an old school, run-first team during a time when passing and quarterback play is becoming more and more popular. Regarded as one of college football's top running backs over the past few seasons, Bigsby came just 30 yards shy of posting back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons at Auburn. Stan White led the Tigers during one of the best times for the Tigers. 3 position for touchdown passes in a season with 20. Defensive line has been a point of emphasis for Auburn in the 2024 recruiting class. However, being the feature back is not guaranteed as back-to-back carries of 41 and 70 yards made up over 25% of his total yards. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Ingram has the skill set to move up the ladder and push for playing time this season for the Tigers. Career stats (2014-17): 758 carries, 4,769 yards, 44 TDs; 31, 361 yards receiving, 4 TDs, Accomplishments: First-team All-SEC (2014); Second-team All-SEC (2017); SEC Freshman of the Year (2014). This Month in Sports ReferenceFind out when we add a feature or make a change. He owned one of the 10 highest rushing grades in the Power Five from Week 10 on (82.9). No FBS running back churned out 10 or more yards on a higher rate of carries over that period than Brooks (23.4%). Career stats (2014-16): 687 carries, 4,464 yards, 46 TDs; 79 catches, 935 yards, 2 TD, Accomplishments: First-team All-American (2015, 2016); First-team All-ACC (2015, 2016); ACC champion (2014). He was the sixth-highest-graded runner in the Power Five at 90.0 and logged 147 carries without fumbling the football, the second-most in the nation. McCaffrey gave way to Bryce Love after leaving Stanford early in 2016 for the NFL Draft and enjoyed five 200-yard games in his tenure. Pat Sullivan was the Tigers first Heisman Trophy winner, and the first to win the award for a school that was previously coached by John Heisman. QB | RB | WR | TE | OT | iOL | DI | EDGE | LB | CB | S. Bigsby was one of the most impressive true freshmen of the 2020 class, finishing as the fifth-most valuable first-year non-quarterback in the country, per PFF Wins Above Average (WAA). About Saturday Down South | Ethics and Editorial Standards | Privacy Policy | Terms and Conditions | Do Not Sell My Personal Information, Other Conferences: Big Ten | ACC | Pac-12. Nix carries a career record of 19-0-1 as a starter. Jackson earned his scholarship as a redshirt freshman last season. This may be the most talent Auburn has had in the running back room in some time but it also faces the most questions. Below is a list of PFFs top 10 returning running backs. Yeldon often is overlooked in the Tides run of great running backs under Nick Saban, but Yeldon came the closest to producing three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons. Ball scored his 39th touchdown of the 2011 season during the bowl game, tying him with former Oklahoma State star and future NFL Hall of Famer Barry Sanders for most touchdowns in a single FBS season. If Gore can improve upon his 84 snaps on the receiving front, an area where he flashed last season, he can climb even higher up this list come 2021. The 2020 four-star recruit who ranked 40th nationally, according to 247Sports was easily among the most elusive ball carriers in college football last year. Before Jason Campbell wore No. *All of these career numbers are his high school stats over the course of 50 games. Career stats (2015-17): 671 carries, 3,843 yards, 43 TDs; 103 catches, 1,195 yards, 8 TDs; 2 KOR TDs, Accomplishments: Consensus All-American (2017); Paul Hornung Award (2017); Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year (2016, 2017); AmecheDayne Running Back of the Year (2016, 2017); Rodgers-Dwight Return Specialist of the Year (2017); First-team All-Big Ten (2016, 2017). Mason took home the SECs Offensive Player of the Year award in 2013 along with a first-team All-SEC selection. The last Tigers running back to do that was Onterio McCalebb in 2011 (32 catches for 344 yards). The list is based on a bevy of factors, including. The list is based on a bevy of factors, including PFF grade and other advanced metrics available to CFB Premium Stats+ subscribers. Not just a dangerous running back, Brooks was devastating in the return game, which is why he sits at the top of Auburns all-purposeyardage leaderboard. We are entering the post-Tank Bigsby era of Auburn football. Some might consider this ranking disrespectful, as Hall led the country with 1,562 rushing yards in 2020, but lets not forget that he also saw 28 more carries than any other back and was one of six backs with over 200 carries. Like Bigsby, Vaughn was also one of the top first-year players in college football this past season. An award-winning editor with previous stints at the Miami Herald, The Indianapolis Star and News & Observer, Executive Editor Chris Wright oversees editorial operations for Saturday Down South. Or, more specifically, the second half of that season, when he carried Auburn to an SEC title and a He averaged 6.7 yards per carry career despite getting the rock just under 25 times per contest and faced eight men in the box nearly every snap as a sophomore and junior. Lattimore had one as a freshman in 2010 and would have had more had it not been for two devastating knee injuries. If you feel like you're losing control over your gambling experience, call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ, PA, WV), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-888- 532-3500(Virginia) 1-800-522-4700 (NV, TN), 1-800-522-4700 (CO, TN), 1-855-2CALLGA (IL), 1-800-270-7117 (MI). Watch more top videos, highlights, and B/R original content, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. PFF's exclusive metrics provide matchup previews, position rankings, grades, and snap counts. 17, Reggie Slack made the jersey famous. Shaun Shivers may have only been used as a role player, but he has thrived in that role, averaging 5.3 yards per carry and should earn some carries early on when the younger guys are still learning the offense. White will be remembered for his wins and his time with the Auburn Sports ISP Network. Jackson was drafted into the NFL twice (including No. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. And a good feel he has. Why he's here: Elliott edges Ohio State's all-time leader in rushing yards as a freshman, J.K. Dobbins, in this spot. Bowl Record: 46 Bowls, 24-20-2, .543 W-L% (Major Bowls), Ranked in AP Poll: 40 Times (Preseason), 40 Times (Final), 602 Weeks (Total), Heisman Winners: Pat Sullivan (1971), Bo Jackson (1985), Cam Newton (2010), Stadium: Jordan-Hare Stadium (cap. pic.twitter.com/lufl0TX2gH, Russell Brown (@RussNFLDraft) March 9, 2021. Whitlow wasnt Auburns only departure as Malik Miller decided to leave the program as well. Auburn has been known for its running backs in the past, but there have been some very good signal-callers that have played for the Tigers. Dobbins followed Mike Weber and Elliott in Buckeyes lore and managed three consecutive 1,000-plus yard seasons including 2,003 as a junior a feat Elliott never accomplished. Having the best season doesnt always translate to best career. He is only a few years removed from a 1,000 yard rushing season at St. Pauls in one of the toughest classifications in Alabama. His strong contact balance was on full display as he came away with the fifth-most broken tackles per attempt (0.34) in the FBS. What I Like: Alston has become one of Auburns biggest assets off the field, essentially being the best recruiter for Auburn this past year. Slack is in the top 10 for passing yards, completions and completion percentage for the Tigers all time. Jackson, who played at Auburn from 1982-85, rushed for 4,303 rushing yards (6.6 yards per carry) and 43 touchdowns in his career. After a bombardment of distractions that occurred surrounding his recruitment to Mississippi State and Auburn, Newton pushed forward meticulously, guiding the Tigers to a national title in 2010. 2005-2023 CBS INTERACTIVE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. The Tigers were nowhere near the spotlight when the 2010 season began, but thanks to Newton, they owned it when the year concluded. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? Auburn has had two Heisman Trophy winners that have played the quarterback position, with numerous others guiding the Tigers to championships and big wins. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. He went No. 5 overall in the 2005 NFL draft, playing seven years in the pros. Eight completions on 10 pass attempts for 101 yards and an insane 50 rushes for 539 yards and eight rushing touchdowns, including Melvin Gordons nine carries for 216 yards and one touchdown. These power rankings are adjusted based on coach, quarterback and the market each season. Bill Connelly ranked Jackson as the 8th best running back on his list. Hes right there with Allgeier for the best non-Power Five running back in the country. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Derick Hall is headed to the projected Super Bowl winner in this latest mock draft. There's also the possibility of adding some more depth via the transfer portal - Mississippi State running back Dillion Johnson may be added to this list here in the next couple of weeks. His most impressive stat was his career completion percentage that lands him at the No. Only injury will prevent Fournette from a third consecutive 1,000-yard season in 2016, which hell enter as a leading Heisman Trophy candidate. Jason Campbell was another quarterback for the Tigers that battled for his position before becoming a star. Brooks opted out of the 2020 season due to COVID-19 concerns, but he will be back for the 2021 campaign very good news for the Sooners. Please check your email for a confirmation. Can Auburn earn its' second straight SEC road win on Wednesday night in Baton Rouge? And remember, this has nothing to do with pro potential. His strongest season was his senior year in 1997 where he guided the Tigers to the SEC championship game. He followed that up with a career-high 46 carries for 189 yards against Florida in the SEC Championship before finishing it out with three touchdowns vs. Clemson in the national title game. This is a subjective group and you're not going to agree with all the selections, in fact, a few of the omissions could be frustrating. Fournette, with 2,987 yards, has put himself in position to make a run at Walkers career SEC rushing record of 5,259 yards. This includes 30 players taken in the first round and four overall number one picks: Cam Newton in 2011, Aundray Bruce in 1988, Bo Jackson in 1986, and Tucker Frederickson in 1965. . Career stats (2011-14): 631 carries, 4,915 yards, 45 TDs; 22 catches, 248 yards receiving, 4 TDs, Accomplishments: Big Ten champion (2011, 2012); Heisman Trophy runner-up (2014); Doak Walker Award (2014); Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year (2014); Unanimous All-American (2014); First-team All-Big Ten (2014). Slack is not an often remembered quarterback for the Tigers, but he was a winner. You can also follow JD on Twitter@jdmccarthy15, Sign up for the Auburn Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. What I Dont Like: Limited snaps have not allowed Ingram to play to his full potential. It's difficult to imagine any school having a better 10-year parade of running backs than the one Auburn put together from 1976-85. White also had a bit of an interception problem, which doesnt help his stat line, but White was a leader for an undefeated team that faced a ton of adversity. Mark-Antony Richards missed last season following a knee surgery but should be fully healthy and will be in the middle of the competition to be Auburns lead back. The former Seattle Seahawk would have a prosperous NFL career which included NFL MVP. Had he chose to return to Wisconsin in 2020, he'd have a shot to set the all-time rushing record and beat former Badger, Ron Dayne. Cobb has some serious potential to become a great weapon in Hugh Freeze's offense. Career stats (2014-16): 616 carries, 3,830 yards, 40 TDs; 41 catches, 526 yards receiving, TD; KOR TD, Accomplishments: Consensus All-American (2015); First-team All-SEC (2015); Second-team All-SEC (2016). When it came to those inside-zone runs that Kentucky loves so much, Rodriguez jumped to first in rushing grade nationwide. Do you have a sports website? He ran for 1,816 yards that final season, breaking Bo Fournette was a one-man wrecking crew and his sophomore season in 2015 was eye-opening in the SEC. Harold Joiner has not been used yet as a tradition running back but has already made some big plays. The University of Alabama was the powerhouse institution, in terms of championships, of all five major athletic venues with four national titles. Who are the best Auburn running backs in program history? His bruising frame (5-foot-9, 230 pounds) could be utilized in short-yardage situations, if Freeze were to end up using him. Nix started his Auburn career at running back, but was moved to quarterback before the 1957 season. Why he's here: Perhaps the most underrated SEC running back of all-time, I'm not going to underrate the Cedartown, Ga., native here. Dameyune Craig was a fiery signal-caller for the Tigers that filled a role from day one for Auburn when he arrived on campus. Nick Rolovichs run-and-shoot offense produces one of the highest pass-play rates in college football (67%, though 14 percentage points lower than Leach's Air Raid). The Tigers have had quarterbacks go on to the NFL, while others are still coaches in the college game. His blend of power and explosiveness has provided Auburn with a fun compliment to star tailback Tank Bigsby - but now that Bigsby is gone, is Hunter ready to carry the load in the backfield? Tidwell was one of two freshmen to ever lead the country in total offense, accomplishing the feat in 1946. Join our linker program. Mason had back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in 2012 and 2013, when he led Auburn to the BCS championship game. Snubs include Todd Gurley, a Heisman winner and a guy with over 5,000 career rushing yards. This may be the most talent Auburn has had in the running back room in some time but it also faces the most questions. What we know for sure is that Auburn will have a new lead back after JaTarvious Whitlow decided to transfer from the program after leading the team in rushing the past two seasons. Bijan Robinson (Texas RB 5) you have my attention sir. Only three running backs have won the Heisman Trophy in the last two decades, but in the 1970s, 80s and 90s, the running back was the key ingredient to an electric offense. Brooks was the third-highest-graded ball carrier in the FBS from 2018 to 2019 and established himself as one of the top breakaway threats at the position. The Tigers faced a coaching change during his tenure, and the ups and downs that come with coaching changes fell on the back of the quarterback. Since the 1960s when players began specializing in offense or defense, the running back position has provided college football with some of its biggest stars of all time. Auburn has had two Heisman Trophy winners that have played the quarterback position, with numerous others guiding the Tigers to championships and big wins. The Tigers have had quarterbacks go on to the NFL, while others are still coaches in the college game. WebThe official 2023 Football Roster for the Auburn Tigers. What I Like: The sophomore from Mobile provides good depth for the Tigers. Tidwell led the country in total offense a second time in 1949 as a senior. Between 2009 and 2017, Auburn had a streak of 1,000-yard rushers. The 2020 season was his best yet, as he recorded an 89.5 rushing grade 11th-best in the FBS on 91 carries. Career stats (2017-19): 926 carries, 6,174 yards, 50 TDs; 42 catches, 402 yards, 5 TDs, Accomplishments: Doak Walker Award (2018, 2019); Unanimous first-team All-American (2018, 2019); AP Big Ten Newcomer of the Year (2017); Big Ten Running Back of the Year (2018, 2019); Big Ten Freshman of the Year (2017); Consensus First-team All-Big Ten (2017, 2018, 2019); All-time Freshman Season Rushing Record (1,977 yards). Robinson was also productive on the receiving front with 1.63 yards per route run and 10 total receptions resulting in a 10-plus yard gain. 1 overall in 1986), eventually starting his pro football career with the Oakland Raiders. Craig sits at the No.1 spot for the Tigers single-season passing yards mark and completions in a season. The Auburn Tigers football program of Auburn University has had 290 players drafted into the National Football League since Capped off by the addition of fiery 4-star running back Jamarion Wilcox last week, the Wildcats managed the 31st-best conglomerate of recruiting trail talent in the nation. He went on to guide the Tigers to their first national title. The true freshman is the fourth highest-rated running back in program history and should earn immediate playing time. We do not target any individuals under the age of 21. Pat Sullivan is in the No. That total was the second-highest in SEC history until Henry and Leonard Fournette raced past it in 2015. 1500 rushing yards and 25 rushing touchdowns is no small feat for Georgia high school football, so Auburn is getting a solid addition to the running back room in Alston. But in Alabamas share-the-carries system, that was Henrys lone 1,000-yard season. Georgia destroys TCU to repeat as national champs, Rapid Reaction: LSU dominates Purdue in short-handed Citrus Bowl wipeout, Rapid Reaction: Mississippi State swings its sword, wins ReliaQuest Bowl on last-second field goal, Rapid Reaction: Unreal! Why he's here: Henry is here because he managed one of the greatest single seasons for a ballcarrier in college football history as a junior, full-time starter in 2015 for the national champion Crimson Tide. Nick Saban looks to continue this run at head coach, starting with a return to the mountaintop in 2020. What I Dont Like: Splitting carries between Tank Bigsby and Jarquez Hunter is already going to be tough this season, so adding a third man to the rotation consistently would be quite a task. In his final two seasons with the Tigers, Leard led Auburn to victories that no one expected, but also battled in games that he shouldnt have, even being unseated by true freshman Gabe Gross after an injury in the 1998 season. Please update it here. Ingram ran 274 times that season for an Alabama-record 1,658 yards. And remember, this has nothing to do with pro potential. The duo, along with Damari Alson, Sean Jackson, and Jordan Ingram gives WebTre Mason, Auburn Mason had back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in 2012 and 2013, when he led Auburn to the BCS championship game. He did not record a stat for the Tigers in 2022, but received 12 carries for 60 yards and one touchdown over the course of Auburn's first two games of 2021 (Akron, Alabama State). He finished the season with 1,923 rushing yards and 33 rushing touchdowns to go along with 24 receptions for 306 receiving yards and six receiving scores. 2. After that year, he was chosen first overall in the NFL draft by the New York Giants. However, Elliott scored 58 career touchdowns to Dobbins' 38 despite 132 fewer carries in only two years as a starter. Bigsby was one of the most impressive true freshmen of the 2020 class, finishing as the fifth-most valuable first-year non-quarterback in the country, per. Campbell was a stud quarterback out of Mississippi when he arrived on the Plains, but was thrown to the fire before he was ready. But despite the discrepancy between the box score and the play-level production, Hall still lands comfortably into this top 10. Craig is ranked No. Brooks was named first-team All-SEC as a senior, averaged nearly 110 yards per game for his career and had more than 1,200 yards in each of his final two seasons. We'll start by ranking the top 10 returning players at each position and naming one sleeper who could make some noise this season. Rodriguez finished as the second-highest-graded running back of the 2020 season (92.4) and ranked second to UNC's, BYU produced an impressive list of breakout players in 2020; among them was running back, Yes, you read that correctly: Allgeier had only 26 career carries entering the 2020 season but still managed to finish the year with a 93.1 rushing grade, the second-best behind. We support responsible gambling. What I Dont Like: As previously stated, Hunter peaked early in the season, and wasnt as involved later in the year. 3 position all time for the Tigers. About Saturday Down South | Ethics and Editorial Standards | Privacy Policy | Terms and Conditions | Do Not Sell My Personal Information, Other Conferences: Big Ten | ACC | Pac-12. We present them here for purely educational purposes. Alston also is only a true freshman, so unless he has a Hunter-like jump, he may be relegated to clean up duty alongside Ingram. In his one season, he set the season record for touchdown passes and threw for the second-most yards in a season. Rapid Reaction: Back-to-back! Career stats (2013-15): 602 carries, 3,591 yards, 42 TDs; 17 catches, 285 yards receiving, 3 TDs, Accomplishments: Heisman Trophy (2015); Maxwell Award (2015); Doak Walker Award (2015); Walter Camp Award (2015); Unanimous All-American (2015); First-team All-SEC (2015); SEC Offensive Player of the Year (2015). Why he's here: We're cheating here with an 11th player and McCaffrey won't be a popular pick inside Top 10 considering there are guys with considerably more rushing yards, but he was an all-purpose freak at Stanford who was a threat to go the distance every time he touched the football and underrated nationally given those strengths. But this is still a pretty loaded list. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. Career stats (2009-12): 924 carries, 5,140 yards, 77 TDs; 59 catches, 598 yards receiving, 6 TDs, Accomplishments: Doak Walker Award (2012); Heisman Trophy finalist (2011); Consensus All-American (2011, 2012); AmecheDayne Running Back of the Year (2011, 2012); First-team All-Big Ten (2011, 2012); Jim Brown Award (2011, 2012); Archie Griffin Award (2011); Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year (2011); Big Ten Champion (2010, 2011, 2012). It is not a secret that Auburns coaching staff is looking to run the ball early and often this season. 4. Looking at the history books and success that the Tigers have had on the gridiron, here are the top 10 quarterbacks in school history. After watching Frank Gore Sr. put together a 16-year NFL career and possibly more, as the soon-to-be 38-year-old hasnt officially retired yet we now get to see his son dominate in the collegiate ranks. Why he's here: Touchdown machine. Ingram worked in tandem with Glen Coffee in 2008 and Trent Richardson in 2010, but in 2009, he was a workhorse Heisman Trophy winner and national champion. There's not a particular area of weakness in his game (outside of the fact that he's still raw, as any high school talent), which is great news for the Tigers, who would expect him to take over the starting role as early as 2024 if Jarquez Hunter were to declare for the NFL Draft. The former five-star dubbed as the next Adrian Peterson, Fournette only started 24 games of the 31 he appeared in during his short-lived tenure and still managed 19 games over 100 yards rushing including outings of 284, 244, 233, 228 and 212. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. (Photo: John David Mercer, USA TODAY Sports), the same script with our quarterbacks power rankings. Let's take a look at one of Auburn's best position groups: the running backs. We've seen a little bit of everything out of college football's running back position in the last decade, some of the game's top players overall coming from a position that is becoming increasingly less emphasized at the next level as teams move to by-committee approaches in the spread era era. The quarterback controversy may allow for the offense to truly be run first.
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