Auburn football: 3 breakout candidates for 2020

You could realistically choose any of Auburn’s running backs for this last pick due to the sheer talent and depth the Tigers have at the position.

5-foot-7 Shaun Shivers runs like he was shot out of the cannon and is the most experienced back on the roster but likely doesn’t have the size to be the featured guy in the backfield. Mark Antony-Richards is probably the dark horse of the group as a former top-100 recruit and incoming freshman Tank Bigsby was ESPN’s second-highest running back recruit of the 2020 class and is probably the most talented of the group.

However, if I had to put my money on which Auburn RB would get the most carries next season, my money would be on sophomore D.J. Williams.

An underrated gem in the Tigers’ 2019 recruiting class, Williams impressed coaches enough last year to get 84 carries in an already stacked Auburn backfield. Williams took those 84 carries for 400 yards (4.8 yards per carrry) and two touchdowns while also grabbing five receptions for 32 yards on the season.

With Boobee Whitlow’s decision to transfer this offseason, Williams is the Tigers leading returning rusher. It may seem obvious to peg Williams as a breakout candidate but don’t be surprised if he ends up being the team’s first 1,000-yard rusher since Kerryon Johnson in 2017.