Auburn added another potential star to its backfield with in-state running back Harold Joiner.
The four-star prospect committed to the Tigers on Sunday, January 14 during his official visit. He’s the third running back in Auburn’s 2018 recruiting class joining December signees Asa Martin and Shaun Shivers.
Harold Joiner
Ranked as the nation’s No. 5 running back by 247Sports, Joiner chose the Tigers over LSU and Ole Miss among others.
“It’s been a decision I’ve been wanting to make. It was between LSU and Auburn,” Joiner said to AU Now. “My dad was telling me to hold off to weigh out my choices and things like that, and we decided today was the day.”
The Birmingham, Alabama native rushed for 738 yards on 136 carries with 16 touchdowns last season at Mountain Brook High School.
Although he missed time due to injury, Joiner was still selected to the ALL-USA Alabama Second Team and named a U.S. Army All-American.
He projects as running back/slot hybrid at the next level, and head coach Gus Malzahn plans to use him in a similar way to current Buffalo Bills tight end Charles Clay when he was at Tulsa.
“They said my primary position would be running back, but they would put me out in the slot a little bit to run some sweeps and things like that,” Joiner told the Montgomery Advertiser. “(Malzahn) said that I was a key part of this, and I understand that.”
Joiner becomes Auburn’s 16th four-star recruit in the class and their third at running back.
With Kerryon Johnson and Kamryn Pettway leaving early for the NFL, the state of Alabama’s fourth-ranked player has a chance to make an immediate impact.
He’ll compete with rising junior Kam Martin, sophomores Devan Barrett and Malik Miller, and redshirt freshman JaTarvious Whitlow, along with the incoming Martin and Shivers, in the fall for playing time.
Joiner has the ability to be Auburn’s next stud lead back. As the Tigers look to close out the 2018 cycle strong, his signature solidifies the future of the position on The Plains.
