Auburn releases statement on alleged Jarquez Hunter video

Auburn has released a statement addressing news surrounding running back Jarquez Hunter. The statement came from the university’s executive director of public affairs, Jennifer Adams, Thursday night.

“We are aware of the situation and take this matter very seriously,” the statement read. “The appropriate office are conducting a thorough review. Indefinite suspensions have been issued for violation of applicable Auburn Athletics department policy. No further comment will be provided at this time.”

Hunter was allegedly in a video that made its way around social media Thursday of the Tigers star allegedly engaging in sexual activity.

Hunter is one of the top players on the Auburn roster this season, coming in at No. 56 in On3’s Top 100 College Football Player in 2023 this week. Sitting behind Tank Bigsby on the roster in 2022, he totaled 668 yards and seven touchdowns, which ranked third on the team behind Bigsby and Robby Ashford.

Hunter was also one of Auburn’s top performers during spring practice and came in as one of the 10 offensive spring practice standouts you need to know, according to On3’s Matt Zenitz. He’ll try to play a major role for the Tigers, who underwent a wave of change this offseason.

More on a busy offseason for Auburn

After the short-lived Bryan Harsin era came to an end last season, Auburn went out and hired former Liberty and Ole Miss head coach Hugh Freeze. He has helped engineer quite the roster turnaround this year headlined by the No. 5-ranked transfer portal class in the country, according to the On3 College Football Team Transfer Portal Rankings.

The Tigers have 18 transfers coming in, including former Western Kentucky offensive tackle Gunner Britton — the No. 27-ranked transfer to hit the portal this cycle, according to the On3 Transfer Portal Rankings. More recently, Auburn added former Michigan State quarterback Payton Thorne, who could provide a major boost at the position after TJ Finley entered the portal. Thorne came in as the No. 18-ranked quarterback transfer to enter the portal, per the On3 Transfer Portal Rankings.

Auburn also brought in the No. 17 recruiting class in the nation, according to the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Ranking. The class is headlined by four-star defensive lineman Keldric Faulk, who was the No. 64 overall player in the country from the 2023 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.