Hugh Freeze on Jarquez Hunter: 'He's the best running back I've ever coached'
Hugh Freeze has only had two 1,000-yard rushers in his head coaching career.
The first was in 2008, during his first season with the Lambuth University. Edward Robinson rushed for 1,040 yards in a season where Eagles finished 8-4.
His next thousand-yard back didn't come for over a decade.
Frankie Hickson, a 5-foot-8, 190-pound back for Liberty, rushed for over 1k in both seasons for the Flames, including 1,041 in 2019 - Freeze's first season at Liberty, and Hickson's last.
Now, Freeze takes over a program that accustomed to lead backs hitting that 1,000-yard mark on a consistent basis.
His lack of 1k rushers has been for a few reasons.
Early on his his tenure, Freeze ran the ball. Quite a bit. Then, as his time with Ole Miss rolled along, he started to run the ball much less.
Then he picked up a dual threat quarterback in Malik Willis at Liberty and things changed.
In his ten seasons coaching Division I football, this is where his offenses finished in rushing attempts compared to his league:
2011 Arkansas State - 2nd in Sun Belt
2012 Ole Miss - 2nd in SEC
2013 Ole Miss - 4th in SEC
2014 Ole Miss - 11th in SEC
2015 Ole Miss - 10th in SEC
2016 Ole Miss - 14th in SEC
2019 Liberty - 96th nationally
2020 Liberty - 10th nationally
2021 Liberty - 42nd nationally
Freeze has been pretty consistent with asking his quarterbacks to take on a decent portion of the rushing attack, with his QB1 finishing first or second on the team in rushing yards during those ten seasons.
Will Auburn turn away from the run game, disregarding the bell-cow backs and focus more on a balanced rotation?
It may be hard to do that in Freeze's first season on the Plains.
Enter Jarquez Hunter.
Hunter has been Auburn's backup tailback for two seasons now, giving way to Tank Bigsby as he led the Tigers' rushing attack. Despite only being a three-star prospect (and a late signee in Auburn's 2021 class), Hunter impressed in his first two years, rushing for a combined 1,261 yards and 13 touchdowns. Even more impressive, an average of 6.5 yards per carry.
He should get his shot to lead the ground game in 2023, even with the likes of Damari Alston, Brian Battie and Jeremiah Cobb in the backfield rotation.
He is, after all, the best running back Hugh Freeze has ever coached.
Freeze spoke with the media on Monday afternoon and was asked about Hunter.
“I think he’s probably the best running back I’ve ever coached, truthfully," Freeze said.
While Freeze's track record with running backs hasn't been elite, it's still high praise for a formerly successful coach in the SEC.
“I haven’t had a lot of great ones, but I think he’s a really, really good running back," Freeze continued. "I think Jarquez is the best that I’ve coached thus far. Excited about his demeanor and the way he goes about his work. He keeps his mouth shut and just goes to work.”
Running backs coach Cadillac Williams also chimed in on Hunter this week, saying that he's "fired up" about having him for another season.
"Since day one when he stepped on campus, one of the things that truly stands out about Jarquez is just his humble approach to everything," Williams said. "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."
Will Hunter be the next Auburn running back - and Freeze's third - to crack a thousand?
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