Auburn’s backfield picture is starting to come into focus, and the biggest takeaway is that the Tigers do not appear to be treating the running back depth chart like a rigid hierarchy. Under new head coach Alex Golesh, the plan is built around rotation. Jeremiah Cobb looks like the clear RB1, while the rest of the room is fighting for the next two spots and whatever touches come with them.
That makes the RB2 conversation one of the more interesting battles in camp. At the moment, the name that entered the summer with the strongest case was Bryson Washington.
The junior transfer from Baylor arrived with real production on his résumé, including 788 yards and six touchdowns at 5.1 yards per carry last season, even while dealing with an injury that cost him a good chunk of the year. But Washington has also missed nearly all of spring camp and the start of fall camp with another injury, and that has cracked the door open for the rest of the group.
The most obvious challenger right now is Omar Mabson. The sophomore returner hasn’t had a huge stat line yet - he logged 16 carries for 71 yards and a touchdown last season - but he has been popping during fall camp and showing enough to make a real push for RB2 before week one. At the very least, he looks like a strong candidate to land in the RB3 mix.
Tae Meadows also deserves a hard look. The Troy transfer brings a solid statistical profile, with 695 rushing yards, six touchdowns and a 4.4 yards-per-carry average last season.
What separates him from some of the younger backs is experience. Meadows is a senior and has been around college football since 2023, which gives him a different kind of value in a room still sorting itself out.
Then there’s Nykahi Davenport, the Roswell, Ga., native Golesh brought with him from USF. Davenport was a true freshman last season and came into college with plenty of recruiting buzz, but this year doesn’t seem to be about forcing him onto the field. In this setup, he looks more like a player Auburn can develop while letting the more established backs handle the heavy lifting.
Alvin Henderson fits a similar developmental lane. Once one of Auburn’s biggest recruits, the five-star prospect is now a sophomore and still waiting for his breakthrough on the Plains. Like Davenport, he could see some RB3 snaps as Golesh works him into SEC football, but the expectation is that this season is more about growth than a major role.
For now, Auburn’s running back room feels wide open behind Cobb, with Washington’s injury situation creating the biggest wrinkle in the race. Mabson’s camp momentum, Meadows’ experience, and the long-term upside of Davenport and Henderson all give Golesh options as he shapes the rotation.
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Bruce Pearl Steps Into A Debate Auburn Fans Will Want To Hear
Bruce Pearl has not been shy about weighing in on issues far outside the sideline, and his latest public comment landed squarely in one of the most charged debates in womens sports. After Enes Kanter Freedom announced plans to enter the 2027 WNBA draft, Pearl urged the people who oversee womens basketball to protect the sport, putting a familiar Auburn name into a conversation that quickly spread well beyond college hoops.
The WNBA responded by saying there are no immediate eligibility issues and by rejecting efforts to use the topic to marginalize others. For Auburn fans who followed Pearl for years on the Plains, it is another reminder that his voice still carries, especially when he chooses to step into a national argument that has plenty of emotion and not many easy answers. [Read more 🡒]
Auburn Running Backs Face A Camp Battle That Could Reshape Roles
Auburns running back room is heading into camp with a clear message from Larry Porter: everyone has to think and prepare like a starter. The Tigers running backs coach said he is coaching every player equally, and while the offense wont hand out equal snaps to everyone, there should still be ways for the group to help the team, especially on special teams.
Omar Mabson, Bryson Washington and Tay Meadows were among the names Porter pointed to as players with traits that could make them useful in different ways. It sets up a competitive summer for a room that may not sort itself out quickly, and the pecking order could have a real impact on how Auburn pieces together its offense and coverage units once the season gets going. [Read more 🡒]