Auburn RB Jarquez Hunter announces decision to return to Tigers for 2024 season

Auburn leading rusher Jarquez Hunter has made a decision on his future.

The junior running back is returning for the 2024 season, he announced on social media on Friday. Hunter rushed for 909 yards and seven touchdowns in 2023, while averaging 5.7 yards per carry.

“March 9, 2019, that’s when I first stepped foot on The Plains,” Jarquez Hunter said in a video posted by Auburn football. “It was at that moment that I realized I wanted to be an Auburn Tiger.

“There’s something about this place, this team, this staff, that’s truly special. I can’t thank Auburn enough for what it’s done for me, so with that being said, let’s run it back Auburn family. War Damn Eagle.”

Jarquez Hunter signed with Auburn as a three-star recruit in the class of 2021. He was ranked as the No. 49 running back in the country that year, according to the On3 Industry rankings.

Hunter was named to the SEC All-Freshman team in 2021 after rushing for 597 yards on 110 carries. He followed that up by rushing for 675 yards and seven touchdowns in 2022, then put together his best season yet in 2023.

Now Jarquez Hunter is returning for one more year and hoping to improve his NFL draft stock.

More on the 2024 NFL Draft

The 2024 NFL Draft will be held in Detroit, Michigan, with the first round on Thursday, April 25, the second and third rounds on Friday, April 26, and the fourth through seventh rounds on Saturday, April 27.

Players will have the opportunity to solidify their draft stock at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine, to be held in Indianapolis, Indiana from February 26 through March 4.

The three-day event will be broadcasted throughout the weekend on ESPN and NFL Network.

To be eligible for the NFL Draft, players must be at least three years removed from their final year of high school while having used up their collegiate eligibility. Underclassmen are able to request league approval to become eligible for the draft, as are players who have graduated prior to using up all of their collegiate eligibility.

Last season, 69 players were granted special eligibility for the 2023 NFL Draft. 13 underclassmen who had completed their college degrees were also deemed eligible to be selected.

The deadline to declare for the 2024 NFL Draft is on January 15. NFL teams will receive a full list of eligible players in the class on January 19.