Hugh Freeze says Jarquez Hunter the best running back he's ever coached

Jarquez Hunter received the highest of praise from Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze earlier this week. Not even through the entire spring, Freeze made a bold claim about Hunter and the potential he sees in the junior running back.

“I think Jarquez is special, I do. I think he’s probably the best running back I’ve ever coached, truthfully,” Freeze said. “I haven’t had a lot of great ones, but I think he’s a really, really good running back. … I’m excited about his demeanor and the way he goes about his work. He keeps his mouth shut and goes to work.”

Freeze also appreciates Hunter’s willingness to play special teams and do other odd jobs that usually are not fit for someone poised for the starting running back role. Players typically have their egos inflated when they’re preparing for an expected breakout season, but not Hunter.

Running backs coach Carnell Williams said the biggest quailty he respects the most from Hunter is his humble approach to everything. “He’s a great human being that treats people right,” Williams said. Hunter’s relentless effort, work ethic, attitude, tenacity, coachability — you name it. He’s always finding ways to improve on and off the field.

“He has a chance to be a very special back,” Williams said.

Hunter played behind Tank Bigsby for the last two seasons, but has 1,262 rushing yards during that time and 10 touchdowns on a six yard-per-carry clip since assuming the No. 2 spot on the depth chart. Watching Hunter grow into his own and carving out his own niche despite Bigsby running the load for the Tigers is “insprining” to Williams.

“He’s as talented as anybody I’ve coached,” Williams said of Hunter. “The guy has the skill set, the talent, the grit. I think what separates him from a lot of guys that I’ve coached is his mental toughness.

“He’s one of the toughest kids that I’ve been around by his approach, how he handles adversity, how he had the opportunity to play behind Tank Bigsby and sit, learn, still be humble. That’s tough to do, I’m speaking from experience.”

Hunter is poised to be atop the Tigers’ depth chart when Auburn opens its 2023 football season against UMass on Sept. 2. In the meantime, he has to stay healthy through the rest of the spring and head into the summer training period with the same mindset he has mainted through the early offseason.