Nov 30, 2013; Auburn, AL, USA; Auburn Tigers former running back Bo Jackson waves to fans during the first quarter of the game against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Jordan Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports
Amidst the tradition and pageantry, Auburn University is home to stellar athletes that have gone on to have even better careers. Compiling a personal list of my top five running backs was extremely difficult.
The honest truth is that you could compile a list of 20 backs and it would remain equally impressive throughout. Auburn has had a share of power backs, quick backs, and duos that made former opponents cringe at the idea of covering them.
The years have passed and a constant variable has remained the same. Auburn University knows how to run the football.
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This list will span throughout the late seventies and come close to some of the more recent Tiger running backs.
Backs are something that often times is used plural. Auburn is known for their strength in rotation. In the past season Tre Mason and Corey grant were the one-two punch that helped haul the Tigers to their BCS National Championship appearance.
Tre Mason was named the SEC Offensive Player of the Year and won MVP honors at the SEC championship game versus Missouri. That was a remarkable game in which he rushed for 304 yards and had four touchdowns.
Malzahn and company do not plan on stopping this tradition any time soon. Starting now is Cameron Artis-Payne who is following in the footsteps of Mason doing damage between the tackles. Corey Grant is still used to get a burst on the outside edge.
With time we may see one of these backs emerge into future lists.