In today's edition of Auburn Tigers News, head coach Hugh Freeze addresses the running back room, and the top edge in the 2026 class plans an official visit to the Plains
With Jarquez Hunter headed to the NFL after a four-year career on the Plains, the Auburn football team will look for a new RB1 heading into the 2025 season.
The Tigers return Damari Alston and Jeremiah Cobb, and are bringing in UConn transfer Durell Robinson and the top running back prospect in the state of Alabama, incoming freshman Alvin Henderson. Plus, the Tigers locked in the commitment of Omar Mabson earlier this week, who reclassified from the 2026 class to the 2025 class.
With plenty of talent coming in, the running back rotation is still a work in progress, according to head coach Hugh Freeze.
"I don't know the answer," Freeze said, per Auburn Undercover. "That's always a challenge. The running back room is one, particularly when you have talented kids; look at Damari and Cobb the last couple of years. There's no question they have shown glimpses that they could have very good success running the football, but with Jarquez you wanted to get his 20 touches a game and before you know it the game is over and you didn't get the rotation that you hoped.
"It's difficult and it's hard... That's a good problem to have, but it's certainly an issue because they want touches and they want to play. I do think at this level everyone is going to carry five tailbacks and it's difficult to get all of them touches. We do think that's a very talented and deep room."
No. 1 edge plans official AU visit
Last weekend, the No. 1 edge in the recruiting class of 2026 made his way to the Plains with several of his high school teammates for Auburn football's big Junior Day event. Zion Elee is currently committed to Maryland, but the Tigers are pushing hard to flip him.
After his first visit to Auburn's campus, Elee already has plans to return for an official visit, and is considering a visit to watch a spring practice in the coming months.
"What sticks out about Auburn is really, like, what they're building," Elee said, per Auburn Rivals. "They've been a win-loss team every season, and they have a different culture now, they built a whole new defensive staff, they're bringing more guys in, and what just sticks out is what they're trying to build."