Auburn football: Tigers could have top 2022 backfield with George Pettaway

Given the sudden coaching change this past offseason, expectations should be somewhat tempered in 2021 for Auburn football.

I mean, Bo Nix could make the proverbial leap in Year 3 and Tank Bigsby could fulfill the preseason prophecy to contend for the Heisman Trophy and the conversation could shift rather quickly. For now, though, we know that the Tigers will be good, but several steps behind Alabama and Georgia.

On paper, of course.

The 2021 recruiting class was salvaged by savvy late additions by Bryan Harsin and co., including two stud transfers in Eku Leota and Dreshun Miller from the portal. While the receiving core is young and the defensive side lost several stabilizing bruisers to the NFL Draft and the transfer portal, the potential of a comeback is high under a head coach that only knows success in college football.

Even if next season doesn’t result in a Top 25 ranking and a bowl win at the end of it, there’s a pretty loaded 2022 recruiting class to look forward to.

4-star QB Holden Geriner is the foundation of the future on the Plains under center, but he could have a superstar addition joining him in George Pettaway:

The list of schools interested in Pettaway is a long one, and North Carolina is currently in the lead after the five-foot-11, 185-pound rusher spoke with Dre Bly. That said, Cadillac’s chances of landing the Nansemond-Suffolk Academy running back will improve ten-fold when in-person visits to campus facilities are allowed again.

The Plains and the beauty of the Auburn football amenities are the main draws of being a Tiger, but a likely improved record and narrative surrounding the program–one that doesn’t include being known for not producing NFL-ready QBs–could help entice Pettaway to form one of college football’s most promising future backfields one day.