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Auburn football: Shaun Shivers looks like next big thing among Tigers’ history of smaller backs

By Rob Maxwell

Freshman Shaun Shivers showed that he can be a threat in this Auburn offense. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images)
Freshman Shaun Shivers showed that he can be a threat in this Auburn offense. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images) /
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James Brooks ranks third all-time in rushing at Auburn. (Getty Images) /

James Brooks

OK, maybe it’s a stretch to place James Brooks (1977-80) in the smaller-back category.

Records list him at 5-10, 180. Maybe, maybe he was that big. Maybe he just looked bigger because Lionel James came to Auburn after him.

Either way, he wasn’t a big back, but he did enormous things as an Auburn football player.

Here are some of his accomplishments:

  • He is Auburn’s third all-time leading rusher (behind Bo Jackson and Cadillac Williams) with 3,523 rushing yards.
  • He was a two-time All-SEC selection.
  • His 92.7 rushing yards per game is third-best in Auburn history.
  • Tied for eighth with 24 career rushing TDs.
  • Has the No. 9 and No. 16 best single-season rushing marks with 1,314 and 1,208 rushing yards, respectively.
  • In 1979, he averaged 7.4 yards per carry.
  • Auburn’s all-time leader in kickoff return yards with 1,726 (25.4 yards per return).

The San Diego Chargers drafted Brooks in the first round of the 1981 NFL Draft.

He played parts of 12 season and totaled 7,962 rushing yards and 49 touchdowns. He added 3,621 receiving yards and 30 TDs.

Brooks had three seasons with at least 1,000 rushing yards and was named to the Pro Bowl four times.

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