For Auburn Tigers head coach Alex Golesh and offensive coordinator Joel Gordon, the most important thing for this football team to accomplish in the first year is building a strong identity, and Golesh and Gordon want the Tigers' foundation to be running the ball.
Transfer quarterback Byrum Brown is expected to be quite mobile, and of course the Tigers are returning star running back Jeremiah Cobb for his senior year. But one running back can not be expected to take on the entire weight of the run game.
Enter transfer running back Bryson Washington, who left the Baylor Bears to accompany Jeremiah Cobb at this vital position for the Tigers. In 2024, Washington racked up 1,028 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns for Baylor, but was limited last season due to a leg injury that kept him sidelined for most of the year.
Washington has spent the past year dealing with a soft tissue injury that forced him to miss most of the spring practices with the Tigers. And while the injury isn't much of an issue for Washington at this point, the former Baylor running back is still working to find his place within the new, fast-paced offense on the Plains.
“Yeah, Bryce is still fighting like crazy to change his body,” Golesh said, per Auburn Tigers on SI. “We’ve been hard on him and the demand in this offense is hard… You got to be in elite shape. He’s worked hard to get into elite shape. We continued to harp, changing his body. Continued to harp being able to play 8, 9, 10, 11 plays in a row. I would tell you, he’s getting closer. He’s not there yet.”
Bryson Washington could miss Week 1 against his former team
The Tigers will kick off their 2026 season against Bryson Washington's former team Baylor in Atlanta on September 5, but will Washington be at a place to participate in the game?
“He’s physically at 100%. But fall camp will be really good for him,” Golesh said. “When you miss spring, and you’re on this offense, that’s the one part. You may get the mental side of it, assignment-wise; you may be right, but to carry the ball three, four times in a row, to be able to carry it, then protect, then run a route, then carry it again, then protect and run a route.”
Regardless of Washington's status, Cobb will certainly be available to take care of business, and the Tigers also have returner Omar Mabson and two other running back transfers in Nykahi Davenport (USF) and Tae Meadows (Troy) to support Cobb.
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