Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze and offensive coordinator Derrick Nix are currently in the dark about who their go-to running back will be for the 2025 season and they’re still figuring out the broader picture of their running back group.
With expected contributors Damari Alston and Jeremiah Cobb dealing with minor injuries, the door has opened for other backs to step up. AL.com’s Peter Rauterkus reports that neither Alston nor Cobb is expected to miss significant time, and both should be full participants before fall camp ends, giving them a leg up due to their experience.
However, early signs from camp suggest the backfield competition is more open than originally expected. Freshman Omar Mabson II, who reclassified from Auburn High School, and UConn transfer Durell Robinson have both impressed and are now serious contenders for significant playing time. Robinson, in particular, looks capable of handling lead-back duties. Meanwhile, highly touted high school star Alvin Henderson has yet to make a notable impact.
What further complicates the backfield picture is the presence of new starting quarterback Jackson Arnold. A dynamic dual-threat who ran for 131 yards in Oklahoma’s surprise win over Alabama last season, Arnold could heavily influence Auburn’s rushing attack.
If Auburn leans into Arnold’s passing ability in 2025, the run game will likely be used to complement the aerial attack. That makes utilizing the depth and versatility in the running back room critical both to support the offense and avoid overburdening their new QB1.
Ultimately, Freeze and Nix may have a wealth of options at running back or they could be scrambling to establish a reliable ground game just weeks before kickoff against Baylor.
