Four-star running back Shahn Alston places Auburn among top schools

The 5-foot-9, 205-pound two-way player is a consensus top 12 running back in the 2026 class

2026 four-star running back Shahn Alston narrowed down his preferred list of schools to eight on Friday. Auburn, along with Michigan State, Penn State, USC, Nebraska, Missouri, Florida, Wisconsin, and Nebraska, were the programs that made the final cut on his list.

The 5-foot-9, 205-pound two-way player is a consensus top 12 running back in the 2026 class. Alston, who plays his high school football in Painesville, OH, is currently the No.5 prospect at his position from the ‘Buckeye State’. He finished with a team-high 1,124 yards from scrimmage and 16 touchdowns (15 rushing) during his sophomore season for Harvey High School. The four-star recruit has improved on those numbers drastically during his junior season, as he is currently at 1,104 rushing yards and 15 rushing touchdowns through just 8 games this season.

With Jarquez Hunter set to graduate after this season and current backup Damari Alston likely to finish his Auburn career after 2025, Shahn Alston could help create another two-headed monster backfield on the Plains with 2025 four-star recruit Alvin Henderson as soon as 2026. Until then, the high school junior will take plenty of time weighing his options before he either commits to a program, or cuts his list of schools further as we approach next season.

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