Hugh Freeze on Jarquez Hunter's status for Week 1: 'I don't discuss who's playing and who's not'

While he’s been back practicing with the team for some time now, Auburn running back Jarquez Hunter’s status for Week 1 remains unclear. Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze didn’t offer much to clarify his status for the opener against UMass.

During the SEC coaches teleconference on Wednesday, Freeze bristled when asked about Hunter’s status. He said he won’t discuss the status of who is playing and who is not.

“I don’t discuss who’s playing and who’s not. We hope everybody’s healthy enough to play. We’ve got a few that are on that list that maybe can go and maybe can’t, but I’m just not going to discuss who’s playing and who’s not,” Freeze said.

It’s followed with a trend of Freeze saying little about Hunter, who came back to practice in mid-August.

Hunter had been suspended since May and Freeze said very little, stating at various points that he couldn’t or wouldn’t comment on the running back’s status. He was, 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.

At SEC Media Days this summer, Freeze publicly spoke about the situation for the first time and said he couldn’t comment at that time.

“I’m not allowed to comment on the university’s policies or procedures at this point,” he said.

Auburn’s statement announcing the suspensions was vague and didn’t specifically name any players. Before he took the podium, Freeze met with reporters in Nashville and when asked if any other players received a punishment, he again said he couldn’t comment on university policy.

“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 is Auburn’s top returning playmaker this season. He came in at No. 56 in On3’s Top 100 College Football Player in 2023, which is why his potential absence is concerning from an on-field standpoint. Last season, he totaled 668 yards and seven touchdowns to trail Tank Bigsby and Robby Ashford on the roster.