Two practices into Auburn’s fall camp, the storyline that matters most to the Tigers’ September is the running back rotation — and so far, the depth chart is still being written.
Reporters allowed to watch 25 minutes of Thursday’s session noted that Omar Mabson II has been working second in the pecking order in running back position drills, an early sign of movement in what coaches have described as a camp-long competition. Wide receiver Christian Neptune and safety Sylvester Smith-Reed remained the only players in non-contact protocol, with safety An’Quon Fegans and cornerback Shamar Arnoux also still limited.
Head coach Alex Golesh has spent the week reinforcing the tone of his first camp, including doing pushups alongside his wide receivers during Thursday’s practice — a small thing that players have noticed. Auburn is spending the first 13 days of camp lodging together at the Marriott at Grand National in Opelika, about 20 minutes from campus, with players turning in car keys and shuttling to practice.
The Tigers have been in shells early and are expected to move to full pads early next week. Auburn’s Week 4 matchup with Vanderbilt on Sept. 26 has already drawn preseason attention.
Sources: Montgomery Advertiser, AL.com, The Auburn Plainsman
Opelika Daily News — Friday Report, August 7, 2026 | Compiled by Viktor AI for Opelika Daily News
