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Auburn football: 5 most underrated players of the Gus Malzahn era

By Cole McCauley

TUSCALOOSA, AL - NOVEMBER 29: Corey Grant #20 of the Auburn Tigers runs the ball in the second quarter against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the Iron Bowl at Bryant-Denny Stadium on November 29, 2014 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
TUSCALOOSA, AL - NOVEMBER 29: Corey Grant #20 of the Auburn Tigers runs the ball in the second quarter against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the Iron Bowl at Bryant-Denny Stadium on November 29, 2014 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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Peyton Barber #25 of the Auburn Tigers (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
Peyton Barber #25 of the Auburn Tigers (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /

Underrated Auburn football players: Peyton Barber

Going into the 2015 season, Auburn had plenty of options to replace the production of Cameron Artis-Payne who had graduated and was off the NFL.

Former five-star recruit Roc Thomas was the team’s leading returning rusher and was generally seen as the future of the program. Additionally, 6-foot, 230-pound Jovon Robinson was coming in as the number one JUCO running back prospect in the nation.

However, neither Thomas nor Robinson would be the lead back for the Tigers in 2015. Instead, redshirt sophomore Peyton Barber would take the reins.

Barber was ranked as the 482nd recruit in the nation by 247Sports coming out of high school and had just 10 total carries in 2014. Regardless, Barber would be Auburn’s breakout star as he rushed for 1,017 yards and 13 touchdowns for a Tigers team that was in desperate need for playmakers on offense.

Barber would make the surprise decision to turn pro after the 2015 season in order to make money and help his homeless mother. As a result, Barber only got one season to show his stuff on The Plains but he definitely made the most of it.

In a program with so many great running backs in the last two decades alone, Barber is often forgotten about which is a shame for a guy who put up over 1,000 yards and double-digit touchdowns.

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