Tank Bigsby discusses his decision to return to Auburn for 2022 season

At one point, it looked like Auburn would lose Tank Bigsby to the transfer portal. But he decided to stay on The Plains, and he shared the reason why at SEC Media Days.

Bigsby was expected to enter the portal, Auburn Live’s Justin Hokanson reported in December, but the Tigers ended up getting him to stick around. He was a huge part of the offense last season, rushing for 1,099 yards and 10 touchdowns to lead the charge.

When Bigsby arrived at Auburn as a freshman, he had a feeling about the program. He said that same feeling is why he decided to stay.

“I came to Auburn for my freshman year … in 2020, I just felt like this school is different,” Bigsby said. “Come in after my sophomore season, it’s the same thing. I want to change and I want to do the things I need to do for Auburn. Coming into Auburn, it was different. It’s a different program. You have to be a different man to be in this program because a lot of people don’t like us, a lot of people speak bad about us.

“But at the end of the day, we have to come and play. We have to be ready to play. That’s why I came to Auburn, that’s why I’m here at Auburn and I feel like we’re going to do what we have to do this year to handle our business.”

Bryan Harsin praises Tank Bigsby’s offseason evolution: ‘He has been phenomenal’

It’s known that Auburn head coach Bryan Harsin is hands-on, known for participating in team workouts. At SEC Media Days, he was asked about holding his own in team workouts and how many stadiums the team had to run the next day, and used it as an opportunity to speak about his star running back Tank Bigsby.

“Well, a lot more than I’m going to run. I think I hit my limit at about 11 on the decks. But I appreciate him saying that,” Harsin said. “So let me say something about Tank (Bigsby). So he’s, from last year to this year, what a change just physically, mentally, all those things.

“He has been phenomenal. This is the best I’ve seen him and all of our team right now, just physically and mentally are just in a different position than they’ve been before.”