Auburn’s offense planning to use a running back ‘by committee’ approach

In a running back room overshadowed by Jarquez Hunter’s status, Auburn offensive coordinator Philip Montgomery said he could employ a running back “by committee” scheme.
Hunter has not been seen on the field yet during Auburn’s preseason practices.
Montgomery did not discuss Hunter’s availability during his press conference Monday, so it’s not clear if that committee is including Hunter in the picture or preparing for running back room without him. Head coach Hugh Freeze has declined to comment when asked about Hunter’s availability throughout the summer and at his press conference last week before Auburn’s first practice.
Hunter has been expected to be a star for Auburn’s offense this season, but his absence has meant extra looks for other running backs, and Montgomery seems to feel confident in who he has on the field right now — even from a mostly young group without much experience.
“I think we’ve got a talented running back room,” Montgomery said. “Each one of them are bringing different things to the table.”
Throughout the first two practices with open sessions for media members, Auburn has rotated which running backs have played behind the projected starting offensive line during drills.
And while it’s certainly to know what a possible breakdown of snaps would look like, freshman Jeremiah Cobb has impressed coaches in just his first week of full practices with Auburn.
Cobb certainly has looked the part of an SEC running back. He’s listed at 185 pounds on the roster and seemingly looks bigger than that in person. And at his size as only a freshman, Montgomery was quick to point out his speed and vision.
In the practice sessions open to media members, the former four-star high school recruit has seen snaps with the top offensive line group.
His skill set is there, but the biggest challenge he’ll face is the same one all freshmen do: adjusting to the differences of the college game, especially against an SEC defense.
“So just trying to figure out what the process is, how to play fast, how to see things,” Montgomery said. “You think it’s fixing to be a big gap and then all sudden, you wait, you delay, that thing starts closing in a hurry at this level. So understanding when to put your foot in the ground and you got to run through some things and stay up in that run scheme and not feel like you got to bounce some things and always try to get outside.”
Damari Alston was the first running back to see snaps at Thursday’s opening practice. Hugh Freeze described Alston, who’s just a sophomore, as a team leader already.
Without Hunter on the field to start fall camp, USF transfer Brian Battie is the most experienced running back in Auburn’s rotation. But that experience wasn’t in the SEC.
“I thought Brian had some good runs, Damari had some good runs,” Montgomery said. “I mean, all those guys are contributing. And I feel good about where they’re headed right now.”
Even Sean Jackson, who was the leading rusher in the spring game, could have a role in the backfield as arguably Auburn’s most powerful runner.
If Auburn doesn’t get Hunter back on the field for the first game, the running back room could make for another position battle on a roster already full of them. Most likely, Auburn’s other running backs are still going to see the field no matter if Hunter is there with them.
So Montgomery has options. The only question remains exactly which options he has and how he uses them.