Auburn football: What Tank Bigsby’s expanded role in 2022 looks like

We know that new Auburn football OC Eric Kiesau’s offense in 2022 will rely heavily on the talent in his backfield.

Tank Bigsby, of course, is the primary cog that makes the machine turn for the Tigers. Though his sophomore season didn’t live up to the hopes many had for it, Bigsby is still the potential X-factor to whatever shocking feats the program can accomplish this college football season.

After almost taking to the transfer portal and leaving AU virtually hopeless, Bigsby is set to have an expanded role during the 2022 season.

The soon-to-be junior RB shared what that will look like (via AL.com):

"“I can do a lot of things. Coach Harsin got me everywhere. You know, got me in the slot receiver, running back — he got me just doing everything. He wants to get me the ball in the open field and do what I have to do.”"

The Auburn football offense could use another playmaking pass-catcher.

While there were strong performances on A-Day from the likes of Malcolm Johnson Jr., Ze’Vian Capers, and Tar’varish Dawson (besides a key TD drop), it’s undeniable that the WR room is still a position of weakness in AU’s offense.

Getting the ball to Bigsby more to make plays in the open field is a positive step in the right direction for an offense that lacks talent that can scare opposing defenses in the same fashion.

Under Bryan Harsin, the tight end position has been emphasized. Both Brandon Frazier and Landen King stood out this past Saturday, and John Samuel Shenker made plays per usual as well. Shenker had a historic 2021 season and was a key offensive returnee.

Evidently, that wasn’t enough last year during SEC play. Hopefully, expanding the responsibilities of the team’s top option will help carry Auburn football past whatever QB growing pains the team faces in 2022.