Auburn’s Backfield Rebuild: From Walk-On Depth to a Six-Man Powerhouse
MOBILE, Alabama - Not too long ago, Auburn’s running back room was running on fumes. In the Iron Bowl, the Tigers had to turn to walk-on Justin Jones as their backup option. Fast-forward two months, and it’s a completely different story - Auburn now boasts six scholarship running backs, and new head coach Alex Golesh has made it clear: this team is going to run the football.
“We’re going to run the freaking ball,” Golesh said in his introductory press conference, and judging by how this roster has come together, he’s backing up that promise with personnel.
The Tigers return their top rusher from last season, added a top-tier transfer from the portal, and brought in two more experienced backs from the Group of Six level. Throw in a quarterback like Byrum Brown - a physical runner in his own right and the engine of Golesh’s offense - and Auburn suddenly has a ground game that looks built to wear teams down.
“You feel like we went from, ‘Man, what are we going to do here?’ to a really good room,” Golesh said this week at the Senior Bowl.
Let’s break down how Auburn pulled off this rapid transformation.
Cobb Returns as the Anchor
The biggest piece of the puzzle? Jeremiah Cobb.
The rising senior briefly tested the waters earlier this month but ultimately recommitted to Auburn. And that’s huge.
Cobb is coming off a breakout 2025 season where he racked up 969 rushing yards and became the Tigers’ most reliable offensive weapon.
He’s been through it all - originally committing under Bryan Harsin, sticking it out under Hugh Freeze, and now choosing to stay for Golesh. That kind of continuity is rare in today’s college football landscape.
“He brings a veteran presence,” Golesh said. “He’s a true Auburn man who started there and wants to finish there.”
Cobb’s decision to stay gives Auburn a proven lead back - someone who knows the SEC grind and has already shown he can produce against top-tier defenses.
Washington Brings Star Power from the Portal
Just hours after Cobb’s return was locked in, Auburn landed one of the top running backs in the transfer portal: Bryson Washington from Baylor. Rated the No. 7 running back in the portal by 247Sports, Washington chose Auburn over Texas A&M - despite the Aggies being just a short drive from his hometown.
Washington’s résumé speaks for itself: 1,816 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns over the past two seasons. He’s not just talented - he’s seasoned.
“Bryson brings two-and-a-half years of starting game experience at the Power Four level,” Golesh said. “And more than anything, the kind of kid he is.
He was hungry to play in an offense where he can run the ball. He wanted to play in the SEC, he wanted to play against the best talent in the country.”
That mentality fits exactly what Golesh is building - a high-tempo, physical offense that thrives on depth and relentless pressure.
Familiar Faces and Fresh Legs
Golesh didn’t stop there. He also brought in a familiar face in Nykahi Davenport, who ran for 612 yards and seven touchdowns last season at USF - where Golesh was head coach. Davenport didn’t begin the year as the starter but earned the role as the season progressed, showcasing raw talent and explosiveness.
“Nykahi is still young,” Golesh said. “As excited as we were about Nykahi, he’s still a baby. Everything he did was kind of on raw talent, and he’s still got to continue to develop.”
That’s a coach who knows exactly what he’s getting - and what he still needs to unlock.
Then there’s Tae Meadows from Troy, one of the final pickups of Auburn’s portal cycle. Meadows put up 695 yards and six touchdowns last season, adding another proven contributor to the mix.
Building for Tempo - and Toughness
All told, Auburn’s six scholarship backs combined for 3,135 rushing yards last season at their respective schools. That’s not just depth - that’s production.
And in Golesh’s system, which has ranked among the fastest-paced offenses in college football over the last three years, that kind of depth isn’t a luxury - it’s a necessity. The Tigers want to push the tempo, keep defenses on their heels, and rotate fresh legs to maintain pressure for all four quarters.
Last season, Auburn didn’t have that luxury. When Damari Alston left the team, Cobb was left to carry the load with little help behind him - often spelled by a walk-on or true freshman. That’s not a sustainable formula in the SEC.
Now? Auburn has options.
They have experience. They have explosiveness.
And most importantly, they have a head coach with a clear vision - and the backs to execute it.
The Tigers may not have a single Heisman candidate in this group (yet), but they’ve built a backfield that’s deep, versatile, and ready to drive an offense that’s built to move - fast and physical. Auburn’s run game isn’t just back. It’s loaded.