Pro Football Focus ranks Auburn's Jarquez Hunter, Brian Battie among top returning SEC backs
Auburn football will showcase two of the top 10 returning running backs in the SEC during the 2023 season, according to Pro Football Focus.
DYNAMIC DUO? Jarquez Hunter is the presumed starter, while Hugh Freeze, Philip Montgomery and Carnell Williams added South Florida transfer running back Brian Battie to the arsenal in the offseason. Battie’s 2022 season grade of 87.5 ranks second-best among returning backs in the SEC. Hunter’s 2022 season grade of 79.8 ranks seventh-best among returning backs in the SEC.
- Hunter enters his junior season with 1,261 career yards and 10 touchdowns. He averaged over six yards per carry during his first two seasons at Auburn backing up Tank Bigsby. Bigsby, of course, was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the third round of this year’s NFL Draft.
- Here’s what Zenitz wrote about Hunter: Back in early April, new Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze threw out a big-time compliment for his new running back. “I think Jarquez is special,” Freeze said. “I do, I think he’s probably the best running back I’ve ever coached, truthfully.” That’s how impressive Hunter was during the spring for the Tigers. After contributing as Tank Bigsby’s backup the last two seasons, Hunter now has a chance to show what he can do as Auburn’s No. 1 back. The Tigers’ staff is expecting a big year from him. One Tigers source said Hunter may be the best player on Auburn’s team.
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- Battie arrives at Auburn with 1,841 career rushing yards and 10 touchdowns. Most of that came in 2022, when Battie rushed for 1,185 yards and eight touchdowns.
THREE’S COMPANY: Don’t forget about Damari Alston, who only carried the ball 14 times during his true freshman season in 2022, but earned recognition from coaches and teammates alike during the spring.
