Auburn Tigers’ misery can’t seem to catch a break this season. After stumbling to a 4-5 this season, they lost their playoff chance, let go of senior RB, and finally cut ties with Hugh Freeze. However, it has only worsened since then. Facing tough matchups against teams like Vanderbilt and Alabama without a leader was already a significant challenge. Guess what? A thunderbolt hit them hard. A former RB who Freeze removed has officially entered the portal now!

After playing in four games this year and rushing 32 times for 128 yards with a touchdown for Auburn, running back Damari Alston entered the portal looking for a better place. Recruiting analyst Hayes Fawcett hits IG with the update, saying, “BREAKING: Auburn RB Damari Alston plans to enter the Transfer Portal, he tells @on3. The 5’10”, 212-pound RB totaled 1,000 yards & 6 TDs in his time with the Tigers. Alston announced his intentions to redshirt for the remainder of the season a few weeks ago.”

This was Alston’s fourth year with the Tigers, during which he recorded 809 yards and six touchdowns, and also caught 19 passes for 143 yards. He became the team’s captain after the Tigers voted for him, but injuries came in the way of his breakout season. Starting his season strong against Baylor in Week 1, Alston rushed for 84 yards on 16 carries and made a statement to the conference.

Yet, a shoulder injury sidelined him for the next two games. Since then, he has been toiling to regain his old momentum, having gained just 128 rushing yards and one touchdown in four games. With Freeze parting ways, this becomes another roadblock for the Tigers’ recovery.

Staying at Auburn for one more year was never part of Damari Alston’s plan, as after backing up Jarquez Hunter for three years, he finally decided to go pro. “This year is my last year, my first year starting,” he said during preseason camp. “It seems like the perfect situation, like I’m supposed to be here. It’s worth the wait.” But now that he’s under 1000 yards heading into drafts, the sun’s not shining brightly come draft day. That’s precisely why he’s using his eligibility to transfer somewhere else for the 2026 season.

Freeze was pretty clear that the team needs consistency before letting go of Alston. “I think it’s very clear that we find ways to not win football games,” Freeze spoke to the media after the Georgia loss. “And that’s what has got to change.”

With Alston’s exit and Durell Robinson sidelined with a thigh injury, that leaves Auburn with Jeremiah Cobb, true freshmen Omar Mabson II and Alvin Henderson, and former walk-on Justin Jones. It certainly gave a ray of hope to former HC Hugh Freeze, but even those troops couldn’t meet his expectations like Alston.

Hugh Freeze’s uncompromising revelation about Damari Alston

A few weeks back, Hugh Freeze’s decision to let go of Damari Alston came at a very critical time. As the team was already failing to meet expectations, and following their 3-3 loss in back-to-back games against ranked opponents, the Oklahoma Sooners, Texas A&M, and the Georgia Bulldogs compelled Hugh Freeze to take this bold step. After that, Auburn squarely relied on Jeremiah Cobb, who is now serving as the primary RB.

In all three losses, Alston didn’t see more than seven carries for over 25 yards, and against Georgia, things went down even more. He just rushed for 9 yards on seven touches. That’s precisely why Hugh Freeze pulled the plug on him back in October. “Damari failed to meet the expectations and standards of our program,” Freeze said. “We love him and wish him the best, but that’s where it’s at.”

After Alston’s departure, Cobb took over leading Auburn’s running back room. After rushing for 453 yards on 70 carries and four touchdowns, he got the bigger role with the team after Georgia’s game. But only if things could go as planned, as despite removing Alston, they lost against Missouri and Kentucky. But now that Hugh Freeze is no longer with the team, let’s see if things finally fall into place for the Tigers.