Auburn football: PFF calls Tank Bigsby the top returning RB

It’s not often these days that you’ll see major sports media outlets giving Auburn football much praise on a national scale. While Alabama typically collects all of the notoriety when it comes to both outbound and inbound talent, the Tigers were able to score a recent victory in the digital sporting press world.

Pro Football Focus, an NFL site geared towards in-season and NFL Draft analysis, recently named Auburn’s Tank Bigsby as the #1 returning running back in all of college football:

While a member of the Crimson Tide was obligatorily included in the countdown–although to be fair Robinson Jr. was a stud backup to Najee Harris with six touchdowns and over five yards per carry–Auburn’s sophomore running back figures to reprise his role as the lead rusher in the Tigers’ backfield for a much-improved team under Bryan Harsin.

PFF’s list also included Jeerion Ealy (Ole Miss) of the SEC and Deuce Vaugh (Kansas State) and Kennedy Brooks (Oklahoma) as the other RBs rounding out the top five.

Bigsby was recently named one of the Iron Men of the week by head coach Bryan Harsin, celebrating his hard work in the weight room during Spring workouts:

Bigsby was even named as a potential Heisman Trophy candidate by Bleacher Report in a recent piece.

Given the high expectations on the Plains in 2021, it isn’t a stretch to say that Bigsby, along with starting quarterback (for now) Bo Nix, will be the two essential elements on the offensive end that will determine whether or not Auburn football can establish itself as an SEC elite alongside Alabama, Georgia, and Texas A&M.