Hugh Freeze addresses Jarquez Hunter’s return: ‘Good to have him back’

Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze has been brief in discussing the status of running back Jarquez Hunter amid a suspension throughout the offseason. That remained the case even as he praised the running back upon his return to practice last week.

Hunter has been suspended since May and Freeze has said very little, stating at various points that he couldn’t or wouldn’t comment on the running back’s status. He is, however, glad to have a star running back with the team again after his time away.

“Obviously it’s good to have him back in the room and on the team. He plays the game hard and helps us, in that room, become even better. So, good to have him back,” Freeze said on Saturday.

Hunter was suspended when a video surfaced allegedly of him performing sexual acts. Little other information has come forth since then via official channels or otherwise.

However, it seems that Hunter has now put his suspension in the rearview mirror and Auburn and Freeze are glad to have him back with the team. He figures to be Auburn’s top running back and one of their top offensive weapons, overall. In 2022, rushed for 668 yards and a 6.4 yards-per-carry clip while accounting for nine touchdowns.

Freeze isn’t the only person glad to have Hunter back

Hunter missed the first four days of fall camp while suspended, but appears to be good to go a few weeks before kickoff.

That news is a great relief for his Tigers teammates as he is expected to lead the backfield with Tank Bigsby on to the NFL. Speaking in front of media after the practice, receiver Malcolm Johnson Jr. opened up on what it means to have Hunter back.

“He’s a great guy to be around when you actually get to know him,” Johnson said. “He’s somebody that I trust and he brings a different element to the game that we all enjoy.”

Hunter joined Auburn in 2021 as a three-star recruit out of Nehsoba Central (MS) High School. He ranked as the No. 734 overall recruit and No. 49 running back according to the On3 Industry Rating, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

Although Hunter projects as the RB1, Auburn also has a couple of other options behind him. Firstly, the Tigers return Damari Alston, who played a minor role as a true freshman. They also added South Florida transfer Brian Battie, who rushed for 1,185 yards and eight touchdowns this past season with the Bulls.