Auburn football: Shaun Shivers looks like next big thing among Tigers’ history of smaller backs
By Rob Maxwell
Onterio McCalebb
Onterio McCalebb was so fast he once caught a squirrel with his bare hands. … Or so the story goes.
Malzahn confirms McCalebb squirrel catching story. #auburn #wareagle
— War Blogle (@WarBlogle) April 22, 2011
I think Onterio Mccalebb needs to go to St. Louis for a bit. There's a stupid squirrel that needs catching.
— Plainsman Parking Lot (@AUPPL) October 13, 2011
In other words, McCalebb was very, very fast.
He never had a monster year in his four seasons (2009-12) at Auburn, but he had four really good seasons. His rushing totals: 565, 810, 641 and 570. His yards per carry: 5.4, 8.5, 5.7 and 6.1.
When his career was complete, he ranked 10th in all-time rushing yards with 2,586. He scored 24 rushing touchdowns (tied for eighth in Auburn football history), caught three TD passes and returned two kickoffs for scores.
His 8.5 yards-per-carry average in 2010 when Auburn won the national championship ranks first in school history.
Despite his knack for catching squirrels, McCalebb always will be recognized by Auburn fans for what he did on Oct. 23, 2010.
With the scored tied 17-17 between No. 5 Auburn and No. 6 LSU at Jordan-Hare Stadium, McCalebb took a handoff from Cam Newton. The 5-10, 170-pound running back went left, shifted between a few defenders and once he hit the 50, it was a foot race and there weren’t many players in the country who could chase down McCalebb. The last player with any chance was All-American Patrick Petersen, but it wasn’t going to happen.
The result: a 70-yard TD run with 5:05 left in the game. Auburn won, 24-17, and didn’t lose a game all season en route to the BCS championship.