Freshman Spotlight: Tank Bigsby, Auburn
As we get ready for the 2020 season at CFB Saturdays we will be spotlighting some of the key freshman we expect to play a big role for their teams this season. We are looking at highly talented players who have an opportunity to play and make an impact this fall. Today we will put the freshman spotlight on Auburn RB Tank Bigsby and breakdown the impact he will have for the Tigers in 2020.
Background
Tank Bigsby is the #39 ranked player in the country according to the 247Sports Composite. He played his high school football in his home state of Georgia for Callaway High School. Bigsby committed to Auburn in August of 2019 and enrolled with the Tigers in January 2020. The 6’0″ 210 lb Bigsby was hoping to use spring ball to jump-start his college career but Covid-19 had other plans, shutting down spring practices and college campuses across the country. Despite the shortened time on campus this spring, Bigsby will be counted on to make an immediate impact this fall.
Scouting Report
Bigsby’s real name is Cartavious but he goes by Tank, and the name suits him well. He has a thick lower half and is a sturdy 210 lbs. He runs angry and plows through would be tacklers with ease. He has good vision and patience, finding creases at the line of scrimmage before arriving at the second level with a full head of steam. Bigsby cuts and eludes defenders well making it difficult to square him up. Defenders have a hard time getting in good position to tackle him, allowing Tank to do what a Tank should.
Tank Bigsby is not a burner but he does have some speed. He ran a 4.55 40 yard dash at the opening finals, which is plenty fast for a high school senior who is already 210 pounds. His workout numbers confirm what the tape shows, Bigsby is a good athlete with good size and excellent running instincts. Although he may not have the quickness of smaller guys, there are few with his size and strength that can compare. He displays good skills as a receiver out of the backfield and can hurt the defense in the passing game as well. He has a balanced all around game that should play well at the next level where defenses can gameplan for one dimensional players.
Outlook
Auburn lacked a consistent threat at the running back position in 2019. There was not a single 1,000 yard rusher on the roster and the teams two leading rushers both averaged under 5 yards per carry. Sophomore JaTarvious Whitlow led the way in the backfield with 763 rushing yards but has now entered the transfer portal. The leading returning rusher for Auburn is DJ Williams and the freshman only ran for 400 yards in 2019. The running back position at Auburn is in need of improvement, luckily Tank Bigsby is a guy who can deliver a marked improvement quickly.
Bigsby will likely be phased in as a true freshman sharing time and carries in the backfield with Williams. His well rounded game and bruising running style will help second year Quarterback Bo Nix (#21 in our QB Rankings) continue to develop as a passer. Bigsby has a good chance to win the job outright as he displays his consistent running style and versatility. He can be a feature back for Auburn, bringing a stability that did not exist at the running back position in 2019. The Tigers’ offense can really make a leap forward with development from Nix and a strong season from Bigsby.
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Auburn Marching Bank Image by Curtis Palmer is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
