Hugh Freeze reveals alarming injury update as Auburn Tigers struggle to stay healthy ahead of tough upcoming SEC schedule

Hugh Freeze says that young RBs are going to have to step up for Auburn

I asked coach Freeze about his other running backs on Wednesday, and Freeze didn't try and hide anything. Damari Alston is still not taking any hits in practice, so coach Freeze acknowledged that his Tigers are going to need to see some of their young running backs step up, and fast:

"Omar [Mabson] is learning. And just watching the first period of practice this morning, [Mabson] seems to be improving his pass protection. Damari is probably the most complete because of his experience. I think the others are going to be really good in time. Damari is still questionable [this week] because we haven't let him hit anything yet. Alvin [Henderson] run-game-wise will be fine. But again, it's hard to get enough reps for all of these young guys that we're trying to get ready–particularly with all the looks we see this week. We have to be really careful what we ask them to do in this game, but we are really thin [at running back]. We've got to have some solid play out of these younger guys."

Auburn just needs to focus on emerging from the South Alabama game healthy at this point. The Tigers are favored by 25.5 points (via sports books) as of this writing, so they need to use this opportunity to get right. Give the young running backs like Omar Mabson and Alvin Henderson plenty of looks to get them more experienced if they're needed again later in the year. Call a few runs for Jackson Arnold if the team's struggling to move the ball early. Hugh Freeze just doesn't need to push it with Damari Alston or Jeremiah Cobb this week. That dynamic duo will be huge against Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Georgia, and Missouri.

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