jarquez hunter – Syndication Server

Jarquez Hunter included among top players of the 2024 season

Hunter had a special senior season in 2024, and is earning praise from ESPN because of it.

[autotag]Jarquez Hunter[/autotag] had a phenomenal senior season for the Auburn Tigers and is getting recognition by ESPN for it.

ESPN recently revealed its top 100 players of the 2024 season, including Hunter, who was ranked 95th. ESPN’s Chris Low detailed Hunter’s special season.

Hunter finished his career fourth all time among Auburn’s rushing leaders with 3,371 yards. The 5-10, 209-pound senior had a career-best 1,201 yards this season, which ranked second among all SEC players. Hunter rushed for 278 yards, the most by any FBS player on the season, in a 24-10 win over Kentucky on Oct. 27. He had 214 of those yards in the second half, which was a school record.

Hunter rushed for over 1,000 yards for the first time in his career in 2024, earning 1,201 yards on the ground. He achieved career-highs in carries (187), yards per carry (6.4), and touchdowns (8). He rushed for over 100 yards in four games this season and scored at least one touchdown in five games. His season-high was three touchdowns, a feat he achieved in Auburn’s thrilling overtime win over Texas A&M on Nov. 23.

Hunter’s Auburn career ends with 3,371 rushing yards and 25 touchdowns. He also returned 25 kickoffs during his time at Auburn, gaining 517 yards. Click here to see how Hunter’s career stats compare to other Tiger running backs such as [autotag]Bo Jackson[/autotag] and [autotag]Cadillac Williams[/autotag].

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USA TODAY Sports issues final grade for Auburn football

Is Auburn’s final grade a reflection of its 2024 record?

Auburn football had very few highlights during its 2024 season such as the thrilling overtime win over Texas A&M and premier back [autotag]Jarquez Hunter[/autotag] rushing for 1,000 yards for the first time in his career.

However, plenty of forgettable moments led USA TODAY Sports to give Auburn a GPA-crushing grade in its postseason report card feature.

USA TODAY Sports’ Paul Myerberg issued final grades for all 134 FBS programs following the College Football Playoff National Championship game earlier this week. Auburn received a “D” for its season performance which resulted in a 5-7 record. Other programs included in this category are Florida Atlantic, NC State, Mississippi State, and Troy.

Auburn ended its 2024 campaign with two SEC wins and was in a great position to earn more. Auburn led Oklahoma 21-10 in the 4th quarter before the Sooners scored 17 unanswered points over the final 8:32 to claim the win. Missouri also stormed back from a 17-3 deficit to beat Auburn in Columbia, 21-17. Missouri’s Jamal Roberts scored on a four-yard rush to cap a 17-play, 95-yard drive with 0:46 remaining in the game. Outside of SEC play, Auburn dropped a game to California despite being double-digit favorites at home.

The Auburn Tigers look to improve their record, and their final grade from USA TODAY Sports, during the 2025 season. [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag]’s squad hits the field for the first time in 2025 on Saturday, Aug. 30 against Baylor in Waco, Texas.

Jarquez Hunter announces plans to enter NFL draft

Hunter was a vital piece of Auburn’s offense for four seasons. Now, he is ready to turn pro.

A major bright spot in Auburn football’s recent history is ready for the next step in his college career.

[autotag]Jarquez Hunter[/autotag], who played a vital role in Auburn’s offense as the team’s premier running back over the last two seasons, announced Thursday that he is declaring for the NFL draft after four great years on the Plains.

Hunter shared the news on social media by writing to Auburn fans, coaches, and teammates. He began his post by sharing his gratitude for the opportunity to play for Auburn.

“First and foremost I want to thank GOD for blessing me with an opportunity to be able to play at my dream school and the position he has put me in. I give him all the glory and without him I wouldn’t be where I am today.”

Although underutilized, there is zero doubt that the Auburn fanbase fully appreciated Hunter. Hunter stepped into the premier back role in 2023 following the departure of [autotag]Tank Bigsby[/autotag] to the NFL, where he played at a high level over his final two seasons on the Plains. His first season as the bellcow back saw him rush for 909 yards on 159 carries while scoring seven touchdowns.

He finally reached the 1,000-yard mark as a senior in 2024 by rushing for 1,201 yards on 187 carries. Playcalling limited Hunter’s rushing ability as he recorded less than 20 carries in nine of 12 games this season. Coincidentally, Auburn won three games when Hunter carried the football more than 20 times.

Hunter joins an extensive list of offensive starters who will move on from the program due to graduation including quarterback [autotag]Payton Thorne[/autotag], tight end [autotag]Rivaldo Fairweather[/autotag], and tackle [autotag]Izavion Miller[/autotag].

Auburn lands Virginia Tech transfer Xavier Chaplin

Chaplin aims to earn a starting spot within Auburn’s offensive line in 2025.

Virginia Tech offensive lineman [autotag]Xavier Chaplin[/autotag] committed to the Auburn Tigers on Sunday from the transfer portal. The 6-7, 323-pound offensive tackle started every game for the Hokies over the last two seasons after redshirting his freshman campaign in 2022.

A former three-star recruit, Chaplin has outperformed projections significantly during his college career. 247 Sports ranked the South Carolina native as the second-best offensive tackle in the 2025 transfer cycle, giving Hugh Freeze a much-needed anchor of an offensive line set to lose a few pieces next season.

After helping his Hokies rank No. 22 in rush yards per game in 2023, Chaplin again paved the way toward a successful rushing attack in Blacksburg this season. Running back Bhayshul Tuten finished the season with glaringly similar numbers to Auburn starter [autotag]Jarquez Hunter[/autotag], although Tuten’s scoring production (15 touchdowns) outpaced Hunter’s.

Chaplin will be entering his junior season in 2025 on the Plains. Still with two years of eligibility remaining, the former Hokie will have a direct path to earning a starting role along the offensive line next season. While left tackle [autotag]Dillon Wade[/autotag] is reportedly returning for his final season, right tackle [autotag]Izavion Miller[/autotag] is out of eligibility, leaving a void likely to be filled by the newest Tiger.

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Running back Durrell Robinson commits to Auburn

Robinson finished last season with 731 rushing yards and 8 touchdowns with UConn

Former UConn Huskies running back [autotag]Durell Robinson[/autotag] committed to join the Auburn Tigers on Saturday. Robinson, who originally committed to Charlotte, played one season with UConn before entering the transfer portal earlier this month.

The 6-foot-1 speedster played his high school football at St. Frances Academy in Maryland, which has now become somewhat of an Auburn recruiting pipeline. 2025 Tiger signees [autotag]Blake Woodby[/autotag], [autotag]Bryce Deas[/autotag], and [autotag]Darrion Smith[/autotag] attended the school, and while none made much of an impact while Robinson was there, they did suit up on the same squad.

After playing sparingly with Charlotte in his redshirt freshman season, Robinson finished his first season with the Huskies with 731 yards and 8 touchdowns on just 107 carries. His 6.8 yards per carry led the team, finishing well ahead of starting running back Cam Edwards. The former three-star prospect received an offer from one SEC program during his recruitment process, the Kentucky Wildcats.

Still with three years of eligibility remaining, Robinson joins an Auburn backfield set to be led by senior [autotag]Damari Alston[/autotag] and freshman [autotag]Alvin Henderson[/autotag] next season. While Alston is the likely candidate to garner the bulk of the carries and Henderson is sure to compete for playing time following his historically phenomenal high school career, Robinson could earn himself a change-of-pace role very similar to the one he had with the Huskies.

At the very least, [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] and his staff now have a myriad of options in the 2025 backfield. We’ll see how the Tigers ultimately decide to move forward after losing [autotag]Jarquez Hunter[/autotag].

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UConn running back transfer Durell Robinson set to visit Auburn

The former three-star prospect attended the same high school as a trio of 2025 Auburn signees

Former UConn Huskies running back [autotag]Durell Robinson[/autotag] entered the transfer portal following the regular season, and he reportedly is eyeing the Plains as a possible destination to continue his college career. According to Nathan King of Auburn Undercover, Robinson is scheduled to visit Auburn on Wednesday.

The Seat Pleasant, Maryland native played his high school football at St. Frances Academy in Maryland, which happens to be the same school that 2025 Tiger signees [autotag]Blake Woodby[/autotag], [autotag]Bryce Deas[/autotag], and [autotag]Darrion Smith[/autotag] attended.

The freshman running back has three remaining years of eligibility after a solid first season with the Huskies. After starting his career at Charlotte, Robinson joined UConn this season to create an effective 1-2 punch with Cam Edwards. Both backs rushed for over 700 yards this season, with Robinson finishing his season with 731 yards and 8 touchdowns on just 107 carries. The former three-star prospect received an offer from one SEC program during his recruitment process, the Kentucky Wildcats.

Standing at 6-1 and weighing 200 pounds, Robinson could be a nice fit for an Auburn backfield set to be led by senior [autotag]Damari Alston[/autotag] and freshman [autotag]Alvin Henderson[/autotag] next season. While he still has yet to spend time in Auburn and talk with [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] and his staff, the fit makes sense considering Robinson would presumably have much of the same role he did last season with UConn while joining a trio of his high school teammates on the Plains.

If he were to transfer to Auburn, Robinson, along with Alston, Henderson, and [autotag]Jeremiah Cobb[/autotag], would have large shoes to fill following the departure of [autotag]Jarquez Hunter[/autotag]. With plenty of holes to fill and months to go before the season starts, Auburn’s backfield should have an almost completely different look in 2025.

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A pair of Tigers earn All-SEC honors

Offensive superstars Jarquez Hunter and KeAndre Lambert-Smith received the accolade from the conference

A duo of Auburn seniors were named to the All-SEC Team this week. Offensive superstars Jarquez Hunter and KeAndre Lambert-Smith received the accolade from the conference, with the former earning a spot on the coveted ‘First Team’.

Hunter, who was named to the Preseason First-Team back in August, lived up to expectations during his final season as an Auburn Tiger. The senior from Philadelphia, MS set career-best marks in carries (187), yards (1,201), and rushing touchdowns (8), while finishing with his highest yards per carry (6.4) since his freshman season, when he averaged 6.7 yards per attempt on just 89 carries.

The senior’s strong season vaulted him into fourth place on the Auburn all-time rushing list with 3,371 rushing yards. He finished behind just James Brooks, Cadillac Williams, and Bo Jackson on the list. Hunter was one of two running backs to earn a spot on the First Team, sharing his placement with SEC Offensive Player of the Year Dylan Sampson, who finished the regular season as the leading rusher in the conference. The Tennessee star was the only back in the conference to finish with more than 200 carries, while himself and Hunter were the only two that surpassed the century mark in rushing yards.

First year Tiger KeAndre Lambert-Smith also earned a spot on the All-Conference Team, although the senior had to settle for Second Team honors. Auburn’s leading receiver, Lambert-Smith finished just 19 yards short of becoming the third ever Tiger to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark in a season. His 981 receiving yards finished third among all pass catchers in the conference, while his 8 receiving touchdowns finished tied for second behind only LSU’s Kyren Lacy, who had 9. Alabama’s Ryan Williams (857 yards, 8 touchdowns) and Missouri’s Luther Burden (676 yards, 6 touchdowns) earned spots on the First Team ahead of Lambert-Smith.

Auburn’s football season may not have gone the way the two seniors had wanted it to, but both players should be proud of their individual efforts nonetheless. The pair of seniors cemented their Auburn legacy with fantastic performances in an otherwise lost season, helping create optimism around the program as it transitions into the Hugh Freeze era.

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Sun Belt’s leading rusher schedules visit to Auburn

Auburn’s quest to find its next start running back begins with ULM’s Ahmad Hardy.

Auburn football is out to find its next premier running back and will dip into the Sun Belt Conference to begin its journey.

According to Jeffrey Lee of Auburn Live, Auburn will host ULM running back [autotag]Ahmad Hardy[/autotag] for a visit next Monday. Hardy entered the transfer portal after a stellar freshman season at ULM, where he rushed for 1,351 yards and 13 touchdowns on 237 carries.

Auburn running back [autotag]Jarquez Hunter[/autotag] departs the program after rushing for 3,371 yards and 25 touchdowns, and the Tigers will look to re-shape the running backs room without his presence. [autotag]Damari Alston[/autotag] and [autotag]Jeremiah Cobb[/autotag] return as scholarship running backs and Alvin Henderson will join the roster as a true freshman ahead of the 2025 season. [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] will look to add a running back through the transfer portal to bring their scholarship total to four.

Hardy will be a solid addition to the rotation should he commit to Auburn. Hardy set the Sun Belt world on fire last season as his 1,351 rushing yards led the conference, while his 13 rushing touchdowns tied him with South Alabama’s Fluff Bothwell for the conference lead.

He rushed for over 200 yards in two games for the Warhawks in 2024 while rushing for over 100 yards in six additional games. According to Pro Football Focus, Hardy recorded 34 rushes of 10+ yards, and 63 of his touches resulted in ULM first downs. He gained 1,034 yards after initial contact and forced 96 missed tackles.

Auburn is not the only Power Four program that is interested in Hardy’s services. Ole Miss, Michigan, Kentucky, and Oklahoma are just a few programs that have contacted Hardy in the transfer portal’s early stages.

Jarquez Hunter accepts invite from Senior Bowl

After rushing for 3,371 yards and 25 touchdowns throughout his Auburn career, Hunter will lace up his cleats one final time in February.

[autotag]Jarquez Hunter[/autotag] played his final game in an Auburn uniform last Saturday in the Tigers’ 28-14 loss to rival Alabama in Tuscaloosa. However, the Auburn running back recently accepted an opportunity to lace up his cleats one final time as a collegiate athlete.

On Monday, it was announced that Hunter had accepted an invite to compete in the Reese’s Senior Bowl at Hancock Whitney Stadium in Mobile. This would give him one final chance to showcase his skills in front of NFL scouts ahead of the 2025 NFL draft.

Hunter had a stellar four-year career at Auburn, ending his time on the Plains with 3,371 rushing yards and 25 touchdowns. His first two seasons saw him complement [autotag]Tank Bigsby[/autotag] by rushing for 1,261 yards and ten touchdowns during the 2021 and 2022 seasons. In 2023, he took over as the premier back where he added 2,110 yards along with 15 touchdowns to add to his career total. In 2024, he reached the 1,000-yard mark for the first time in his career by rushing for 1,201 yards and eight touchdowns, averaging 6.4 yards per carry.

Hunter joins linebacker [autotag]Eugene Asante[/autotag] as Tigers who have accepted Senior Bowl invites. The Senior Bowl will be held on Saturday, Feb. 1, at 1:30 p.m. CT and will be broadcast live on NFL Network.

In photos: Alabama defeats Auburn in 89th Iron Bowl

Here are the best photos from No. 13 Alabama’s 28-14 win over Auburn on Saturday.

Auburn football fell to the No. 13 Alabama Crimson Tide on Saturday, 28-14.

The visiting Tigers stayed close to Alabama in the yards department, being out-gained 457-399. Quarterback [autotag]Payton Thorne[/autotag] passed for 301 yards and a touchdown in the loss, but two late interceptions, including one on a trick play by running back [autotag]Jarquez Hunter[/autotag], killed Auburn’s hopes of erasing the 14-point deficit in the final quarter of play.

Third down was an issue for Auburn on Saturday, as they converted just 4-of-12 opportunities. Considering that Auburn recovered three Alabama fumbles and picked off Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe once, the lack of being able to take advantage of extra opportunities on offense hurt the Tigers’ chances to pull off an upset win.

Here are the best images from Auburn’s loss to Alabama on Saturday.