Why Auburn football's Hugh Freeze called Jarquez Hunter the best RB he has ever coached
AUBURN — Auburn football coach Hugh Freeze hasn't even seen Jarquez Hunter in a game yet, but he's already calling the 5-foot-10, 210-pound playmaker the best running back he's ever coached.
Freeze, who had Jordan Wilkins at Ole Miss for a couple of seasons and also saw Dae Dae Hunter rush for 854 yards at Liberty in 2022, said Hunter has them beat: “I think Jarquez is special. I do. ... (I’m) excited about his demeanor and the way he goes about his work," Freeze said Monday. "He keeps his mouth shut and just goes to work."
Asked to give his assessment of Hunter, running backs coach Cadillac Williams echoed similar sentiments.
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"I’m fired up about Jarquez," Williams said Tuesday. "Since Day 1 when he stepped on campus, one of the things that truly stands out about Jarquez is just his humble approach to everything. ... I love his tenacity. I just love his grit. Love how he’s willing to learn each and every day. He’s always trying to find ways that he can get better. The sky is the limit for Jarquez. I think he has a chance to be a very, very special back."
Hunter rushed for 668 yards in 2022 as the No. 2 option behind Tank Bigsby. He averaged 6.4 yards per carry and added nine total touchdowns. He's poised to lead a position group this season that features sophomore Damari Alston, freshman Jeremiah Cobb and South Florida transfer Brian Battie.
"Right now, that’s still to be determined," Williams said when asked if Hunter is the best running back he's ever had. "He’s just as talented as anyone I have coached. The guy has the skill set, has the talent, has the grit. What separates him from a lot of guys that I have coached is just his mental toughness.
"He’s one of the toughest young men I have been around, just by his approach and how he handles adversity and how he had the opportunity to play behind Tank Bigsby and sit and learn and still be humble. That is tough to do. Lord knows, I’m kind of speaking from experience. To watch his growth has been inspiring for me."
Richard Silva is the Auburn athletics beat writer for the Montgomery Advertiser. He can be reached via email at rsilva@gannett.com or on Twitter @rich_silva18.
This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Auburn football: Cadillac Williams, Hugh Freeze praise Jarquez Hunter
