It’s a new year for Auburn football, and the pressure is on in as many ways as you can imagine. After a less-than-great 2020 season, the Tigers are back with a new coaching staff and new playing schemes, and they definitely have something to prove.
Third-year starting quarterback Bo Nix has been picked apart for two mediocre seasons and has gone up against LSU transfer T.J. Finley this summer to cement his role as QB1. Tank Bigsby had an incredible true freshman season and is returning to the football field with a vengeance.
According to notorious Twitter user Big Game Boomer, Nix and Bigsby are the 11th best quarterback-running back duo in college football heading into the 2021 season:
Top 50 Quarterback/Running Back Duos In College Football pic.twitter.com/qmKd59LYQp
— Big Game Boomer (@BigGameBoomer) August 18, 2021
Just outside BGB’s top 10, Nix and Bigsby are expected to make great strides this season. With Mike Bobo’s new offense and Bryan Harsin’s reputation as a quarterback developer, Nix’s chances at getting better have already drastically improved. Auburn Wire reports that Coach Bobo has been working with Nix in the problem areas:
"Bobo has said this offseason he’s been working with Nix on everything that makes him bad: mechanics, decision making, presnap reads, etc."
Meanwhile, Bigsby has been named to numerous award watchlists after earning SEC Freshman of the Year and All-SEC freshman team honors. The running back is looking to up the ante with his gameplay this season, and Auburn football’s new pro-style offense will allow him to be more downhill and more explosive with the ball:
"“We’re more downhill this year,” Bigsby said. “We’ve got (offensive coordinator) Mike Bobo, we’ve got Coach Harsin, big offensive guys. I feel like we’re going to be really good at what we do, especially running the ball. I feel like we’re going to be great at that.”"
The Auburn football program has long relied on the running game to carry the offense, and Tank Bigsby has definitely got us covered in that department. Couple that with Nix’s improvement and the Tigers should be off to the races in 2021.