Hugh Freeze expects Auburn's running back room to be a strength in 2024

Hugh Freeze thinks one position group on his team isn’t getting enough buzz. However, he’s fine with it coming into the season with how he wants them to go unnoticed before causing issues for defenses this fall.

Freeze discussed Auburn’s stable of running backs while at the podium for his press conference at SEC Media Days on Thursday. He really likes the three pronged attack they have there for the run game in Jarquez Hunter, Damari Alston, and Jeremiah Cobb, especially since they’re all a little bit different from the other.

“I love our running back room, you know,” said Freeze. “I’m fine with nobody talking about them. I really am but Jarquez and Damari and Cobb, I think, are three really, really good backs.”

“Damari is kind of the leader of that group, truthfully. I know Jarquez but Jarquez is very quiet. I love that about him. He works his tail off,” Freeze described. “Damari, if you need something to be said to the team or something from that room? It would come from him and people would listen.”

Freeze has an emphasis on them because of their importance to his offense for this year. With a passing game that must get better, he wants to start with being able to run it well and efficiently on the ground.

“We have to run the football. We were pretty decent – I think third or fourth in the conference last year i rushing. I love our backs,” Freeze further added later on ‘SEC Now’. “Obviously, if you run the football, you can stay out of third and longs. But it’s foolish for us to think that every first down is going to give an ideal box to run the ball against. So Payton (Thorne) has to make the correct decisions.”

Freeze went further in depth with Alston after the question was asked about him. In doing so, he again noted the leadership and maturity from him that he pairs with being a quality player.

“Number one – when you said his name, the first word that pops in my mind is leader. Two times now he has been elected to the culture council unanimously. He has wisdom for a young man,” Freeze said. “You combine that with he’s a dang good running back too.”

While talking about his backs, Freeze also took a moment to continue to share his thoughts for Brian Battie. He was part of that room coming as well before a shooting back in May.

“By the way, our prayers are still with Brian Battie and his family as he’s still recovering from his incident that happened this summer,” Freeze added.

The three backs have staggered amounts of experience with Hunter being a senior, Alston being a junior, and Cobb being a sophomore. Hunter is back after starting last season with 909 yards and seven scores. For his career, he has now rushed for 2,170 yards and 17 touchdowns. As for Alston, he has posted 405 yards and a pair of scores on 78 carries through two seasons. Finally, after his freshman year, Cobb has 172 yards and two scores from 33 carries.

Add that all up and the trio rushed for just over 1,400 yards, good for 5.3 per carry, and 11 touchdowns. That accounted for 57% of their yardage on the ground and half of the scores in the run game.

Tiger fans want to see the offense improve this season in year two under Freeze. Whether it does or not, though, Auburn will have this group to lean on down on The Plains.