Auburn football: Junior skill player set to lead room under Hugh Freeze

Auburn football running back Jarquez Hunter is dug in as the starter in Hugh Freeze and Philip Montgomery’s offensive schemes in 2023 — and that would have been the case even if AU had landed their top transfer portal rushing target.

According to 247Sports’ Christian Clemente, Hunter would have been the lead back in the RB room even if former Mississippi State transfer Dillon Johnson chose the Plains after taking to the portal in early December. Louisville and South Carolina were among his other options.

Hunter has established himself as the top returning back and even outplayed Tank Bigsby many games over the past two years, particularly in the passing game. Hunter hauled in two receiving touchdowns against Penn State and Georgia in 2022, two defenses in the top 17 nationally.

Auburn football could have multiple Bryan Harsin era holdovers starting under Hugh Freeze

Hugh Freeze has not only done quite a job flipping Class of 2023 high school recruits, but he’s also kept several Bryan Harsin era skill players in key roles. Most of those are in a good position to end up starting during the 2023 season.

Auburn football could see transfer portal returnees Tar’Varish Dawson and Landen King finally reach their potential under a new and improved offense, and Robby Ashford could end up back as the starting quarterback. That, though, depends on if Spencer Sanders or Brennan Armstrong commits to AU.

Freeze has maintained a good number of Harsin, and even Malzahn-era coaches, including Carnell “Cadillac” Williams, who was originally hired in 2019, and Zac Etheridge, who was hired in 2021. It makes sense that there’d be holdovers on the field as well as the sidelines.

Ultimately, he may not have the final say in many decisions, though. The powerful boosters that determine the direction of the programs will have their hand in what Freeze does during his Tigers coaching tenure. As long as that arrangement works for all involved, Auburn football should have the pieces to be competitive in 2023 and beyond.

Many of the key players will be moving forward having the wear and tear of the last two years on their bodies and souls. That could end up being a positive due to the adversity built and, ideally, overcome.