Auburn’s running back room is going to be one of the more crowded battles on the roster when fall camp opens in the first week of August, and Troy transfer Tae Meadows is right in the middle of it.
Meadows, a 5-foot-10, 200-pound back from Roanoke, Alabama, arrived after three seasons at Troy and brings a résumé that makes him easy to notice in a deep competition. Auburn signed three running backs out of the transfer portal, and Meadows may be the most intriguing of the group.
Last season, Meadows rushed for 695 yards and six touchdowns in 2025. He also became one of four Troy backs to clear 600 rushing yards, joining Jeremiah Cobb, Bryson Washington and Nykahi Davenport. Over his Troy career, he averaged 4.4 yards per carry, and he made a loud first impression in the season opener against Nicholls, when he ran for 186 yards and a touchdown.
“Man, it’s a blessing. I can’t even lie.
I dreamed about playing at this school, since I was a little kid. It’s been a good experience so far,” Meadows said in the spring.
“I’ll say I’m shifty. Shifty with a little power.
Marshawn Lynch-type.”
Auburn coach Alex Golesh sees a back with a distinct skill set and believes the Tigers will lean on a three-man rotation this fall.
“Tae Meadows has a really cool skill set. He’s got incredible vision.
Those guys are continuing to fight, and that’s what’s so awesome in that room is there’s so much competition,” Golesh said. “We’ll get it to where -- you really need three-and-a-half guys going into the season, and those guys are going to continue to fight.
Some highs, some lows. I think that group has shown some positives.
They’ve got to go take another step, and that’s in everything.”
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