Incoming transfer to have ‘big role’ in determining Auburn RB touches

Incoming Auburn football transfer running back Brian Battie out of USF will have a big role in determining the room’s allotment of touches according to Auburn Daily’s Zac Blackerby — who referred to the RB as a winner from the program’s August 12 scrimmage.

“You can’t tackle what you can’t see,” Blackerby prefaced before saying, “Battie has had a knack for getting past the first line of Auburn’s defense in practice and has turned that into gaining chunk yardage on the ground. Battie will have a big role when it comes to determining what the market share of touches is for the running back room.”

Until recently, there was worry that Battie was going to have to step into the starting role due to the uncertainty surrounding Jarquez Hunter’s future amidst an investigation into an explicit video that made waves on social media.

Auburn football offensive lineman ‘holding his own’ against projected starters

It’s looking like Hugh Freeze’s flip of Connor Lew from Miami is going to lead to Auburn football having a true freshman keeper. Blackerby reported that many are impressed with the 3-star Kennesaw Mountain product.

“The more people I talk to over the weekend, the more praise I hear for the true freshman center,” Blackerby wrote. “Lew continues to compete and hold his own even when going against the starting defensive line. One thing that is mentioned often is that like most freshmen, consistency is the biggest factor.”

Freeze himself has referred to Lew as a “home run” acquisition from the high school ranks.

“I think we hit a home run with Connor Lew,” Freeze said (h/t AL.com). “Connor Lew is going to play for us as a freshman. Needs to gain some weight. Hopefully, that’ll happen in the offseason, but he’s smart, tough, and strong. Moves well. Hopefully, he — He learns the game. We’re playing him both at center and guard, and he seems to grasp it very well.”