For three years, Damari Alston waited for his turn to become the go-to back in Auburn’s offensive system, sitting behind Tank Bigsby and Jarquez Hunter while still getting productive snaps for the Tigers.
At the start of the 2025 season, it was time for the Atlanta native to get his due as the starter in Hugh Freeze’s offense. After an injury in the season-opening game against Baylor in which he rushed for 84 yards and a touchdown on 16 attempts, Alston received a grand total of 16 rush attempts in his next three games. Seeing no light at the end of the tunnel, the senior decided he wanted to redshirt and transfer, hoping to find greener grass at another program.
With Freeze’s ousting following a 10-3 loss to Kentucky in November and the arrival of Alex Golesh, Alston, who ended up signing with Tulsa following other major programs passing on him, should be regretting his decision.
Damari Alston would have fit Alex Golesh's system
Alston showed flashes of what he could be in his first three years at Auburn while biding his time, but it somehow never clicked for him in 2025 after the injury. Some of that can be blamed on the lack of offense that Freeze and his staff were able to mount during the season, as the Tigers seemed to finally find their rhythm on that side of the ball after his firing. Some of that can also be blamed on the injury he suffered against Baylor.
While Golesh can count on Jeremiah Cobb, who is one of the few skill players to remain on Auburn’s roster following the hiring of the new coaching staff, and the head coach has brought in some talented running backs, there’s no doubt that with the right mindset and a change in leadership could have led to a revival of Alston’s career on the Plains.
We shall see what he can do for the Golden Hurricane in his last year of college, but for Alston, a change could possibly backfire.