Auburn RB 'Questionable' for Ball State Game

AUBURN, Ala.-- When the Auburn Tigers host Ball State for its home opener, they could be without one of its top offensive weapons.

Running back Damari Alston is questionable with a shoulder injury, head coach Hugh Freeze announced Monday. Freeze announced the injury designation alongside safety Champ Anthony, who suffered a broken thumb and is set to miss at least two weeks with the injury.

"Champ (Anthony) suffered a broken thumb that will require surgery, so he will miss some time. Damari‘s (Alston) shoulder is questionable," he said Monday. "There were a lot of bumps and bruises, but I think that’s the two. Champ will be out, and Damari is questionable."

Alston rushed for 84 yards and a touchdown against Baylor while splitting carries with quarterback Jackson Arnold, who rushed for a game-high and career-high 137 yards with two scores, and fellow running back Jeremiah Cobb, who added 74 yards and a score.

All three carried a heavy workload with 16 carries each.

“They’ve waited their time and been developed, and it’s good to see them have success in their first real outing where it’s theirs. Hopefully they can build upon that," Freeze said. "We’ll need them both, plus more. Damari (Alston) got a little banged-up shoulder in the game, so we will see how he is this week. If you run the ball that number of times, they are going to take some beatings, and we’ve got to make sure that we get the others ready also. But, really happy for Damari and Jeremiah (Cobb).”