'We aren't training to be anybody's backup': Damari Alston turning heads in fall camp

_JHokanson

damari-alston-auburn-football — Damari Alston (Photo by Sullivan Ortega/Auburn Athletics)

AUBURN – Damari Alston might be a true freshman, but he didn’t train all summer to arrive at Auburn and settle for a reserve or redshirt role.

Alston finished his career at Woodward Academy in Atlanta, Ga. as the school’s all-time rushing leader with 4,159 yards. He’s also the school’s all-time leader in touchdowns with 62.

Alston spent all summer training with former Troy standout, Tennessee Titans and Birmingham Iron player, Marquell Beckwith.

The message from Beckwith to Alston was simple.

“We respect everybody, but we aren’t training to be anybody’s backup. At the end of the day, it’s all about competition,” Beckwith told Auburn Live.

Beckwith Sports Academy focuses strictly on training running backs. Based out of Atlanta, Beckwith works with running backs across the southeast, including talented Alabama commit Justice Haynes, former Auburn recruit Andrew Paul, and backs at North Carolina, Mississippi State, Air Force, Georgia Tech and more.

The hard work is seemingly paying off, as Alston is turning heads during Auburn football’s fall camp.

Alston started the camp as the fifth-string running back behind All-Conference runner Tank Bigsby, sophomore Jarquez Hunter, and reserves Sean Jackson and Jordon Ingram.

Last week, Alston broke through, being named Offensive Player of the Day in practice. He followed that up with an impressive Saturday night scrimmage performance according to all those who watched, including head coach Bryan Harsin.

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That adds up. Alston and Beckwith spent months working on, “pad level, acceleration, training to be elusive in tight spaces, jump cuts, keeping the shoulders square, change of direction, avoiding big hits, running routes,” and anything and everything in between.

Needless to say, Beckwith isn’t surprised by Alston’s early camp success.

“I’m not surprised at all,” Beckwith said. “There’s so much that people don’t see. There’s so much work behind the scenes. The work and time we put in, it’s been crazy.”

Beckwith believes Damari Alston’s self-motivation is a differentiating factor on the road to success in the SEC.

“He wants to be great. Even if I think he did a drill well, he’ll go back and do it again. He takes the initiative to do it better and better,” Beckwith said.

Beckwith speaks with Alston nearly daily.

Harsin said Alston ran hard, displayed good vision and balance, and was a standout inside Jordan-Hare Stadium.

“He’s handling it well. He’s been that guy since youth football. This success is nothing new to him,” Beckwith said. “He’s a guy that isn’t going to brag, he’s not going to boast, he’s more on the quiet side. He’s about hard work. To get more personal, he doesn’t drink, doesn’t smoke, doesn’t even like to party. He’s always sitting down, seeing what he can do to get better.

“He’s not arrogant, he’s not cocky — handling it well.”