Auburn football: Thursday presser reveals 2022 offensive game plan

Auburn football is a program that historically produces powerhouse running backs. From the legendary days of Bo Jackson to Ontario McCalebb and Tre Mason to the present-day superstar Tank Bigsby.

Now, head coach Bryan Harsin, running backs coach Carnell Williams, and offensive line coach Will Friend plan to emphasize the use of running backs in the offensive game plan for the 2022 season, per AL.com:

"“That’s music to my ears,” Williams said when a reporter asked about the viability of run-first offense. “With Tank, Jarquez Hunter, Sean Jackson, Jordon Ingram, Damari Alston, and the guys we’ve got coming in — like I tell people, when Auburn has won, go in the history books, we run the football, and we play great defense. I’m putting the challenge on my guys in my room; if they want to build this thing around this room, you will have to put out — not just on Saturday, but Monday through Friday.”"

After the speculation about Tank Bigsby entering the transfer portal following the 2021 season followed by the details of the conversation between Bigsby and Coach Harsin that determined the RB would stay on the Plains, it’s no surprise that the run-game will be heavily utilized in Harsin’s second year.

And, with most of last year’s offensive line returning for the 2022 season, Will Friend believes that his position group is fully capable of handling and run-first offense:

"“That’s the identity you want, and you’ve got to have in this league. It’s what Auburn’s identity should be. That’s who we want to be,” Friend told reporters. “That’s who Coach Harsin wants to be, not just us as offensive coaches, but that’s what we want this program to be. I think we focus on that, but we’ve got to do our part. We all work together on that. Our job is to block and give those guys a chance to be physical.”"

Tank Bigsby, Jarquez Hunter, Sean Jackson, Jordon Ingram, and Damari Alston will all be in the mix for running back next season, and the RBs will lead the way in Auburn football’s 2022 offense.