Damari Alston waited patiently for his moment. For three seasons, he lined up behind Tank Bigsby and Jarquez Hunter, two proven backs in Auburn’s system, quietly grinding, learning, and making the most of limited opportunities. He wasn’t just a depth piece-he was a player biding his time, waiting for the right window to show what he could do when given the keys to the backfield.
That window finally opened at the start of the 2025 season. Alston, now a senior, stepped into the starting role in Hugh Freeze’s offense and looked ready to seize the moment.
In the opener against Baylor, he ran with purpose-16 carries, 84 yards, and a touchdown. It was the kind of performance that hinted at a breakout year.
But just as quickly as that opportunity came, it slipped away. An injury in that very game derailed his momentum, and over the next three contests, he saw just 16 total carries.
For a player who had waited years for this shot, that had to be a frustrating turn.
With his role diminished and the offense sputtering, Alston made a tough call. He chose to redshirt and enter the transfer portal, aiming to reset and find a better fit elsewhere.
On paper, it made sense-if you’re not getting touches and the offense isn’t clicking, sometimes a change of scenery is the best move. But college football is unpredictable, and timing is everything.
That unpredictability hit hard just weeks later. Auburn dropped a 10-3 game to Kentucky in November, and the loss marked the end of Hugh Freeze’s tenure. In came Alex Golesh, a coach with a fresh vision and an offensive system that, in hindsight, might have been tailor-made for a versatile back like Alston.
Looking at Golesh’s style-up-tempo, creative, and reliant on dynamic skill players-there’s a real argument to be made that Alston could have flourished under this new regime. He’s got the vision, the burst, and the experience to be a weapon in a system that values versatility and quick decision-making.
And with Jeremiah Cobb staying on board and Golesh adding more depth at the position, Auburn’s backfield is shaping up to be competitive-but also open to players who can separate themselves. Alston, had he stayed, might have had a real shot at being that guy.
Instead, he’s heading to Tulsa, where he’ll get one final college season to prove what he can do. The Golden Hurricane offer a fresh start and a chance to be featured, but the question lingers-did Alston leave just as things were about to turn in his favor at Auburn?
It’s one of those classic “what if” situations in college football. Alston made the best decision he could with the information he had at the time. But now, with a new coaching staff in place and a system that might’ve suited his skillset perfectly, it’s hard not to wonder how different things might have looked had he stayed.
Now, it’s up to Alston to make the most of his new opportunity. The talent is there.
The experience is there. And with one last year to leave his mark, he’ll be looking to remind everyone why he was once considered a key piece of Auburn’s future.