Auburn football: Tank Bigsby is fourth-highest ranked 2020 true freshman

If you thought you knew how good Auburn football’s most appropriately named running back is, check again. PFF College released a stat today showing that Tank Bigsby was the fourth-best true freshman in college football’s 2020 season.

Bigsby, who will return as a sophomore to Jordan-Hare Stadium this fall, sits behind Oklahoma’s Marvin Mims, Kansas State’s Deuce Vaughn, and Southern Miss’ Frank Gore Jr. While Bigsby is the only member of the SEC represented in the top four, Marvin Mims earns the honor of being the only non-RB to make the cut.

Mims, who received the highest true freshman grade at 88.9, was the first wide receiver in the history of Oklahoma University to be named FWAA Freshman All-American, according to the OU football website. Mims hauled in 37 receptions for 610 yards and 9 touchdowns in 2020.

Kansas State running back Deuce Vaughn fell just behind Mims with a grade of 88.4. He was named True Freshman of the Year by 247Sports and second-team All-Big 12. Over the 2020 season, Vaughn rushed for 642 yards for 7 touchdowns and caught 25 passes for 434 yards.

Frank Gore Jr. is the only player from a non-Power 5 school to make top-4 status with a score of 86.6. He rushed for 708 yards and two touchdowns and caught 9 passes for 97 yards at Southern Miss in 2020. He led the Golden Eagles in rushing and earned second-team All-Conference USA honors.

And finally, Auburn football’s Tank Bigsby sits at fourth place with a score of 84.1. He earned SEC Freshman of the Year and first-team All-SEC honors in his first year as a Tiger and racked up the second-most rushing yards of any FBS freshman. Bigsby rushed for 834 yards and 5 touchdowns in addition to catching 11 passes for 84 yards.

If Bigsby continues to improve at this rate, he could join the elite club of Auburn football All-American running backs, a group that includes Bigsby’s current position coach, Cadillac Williams.