Auburn Tigers running back Brian Battie was injured in a shooting early Saturday morning. Brian Stultz from Rivals’ Auburn site was among the first to report the incident. The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Department confirmed Battie was one of the victims. Auburn team representatives later verified his status. As of this article’s publication, Battie is in critical condition. The shooting resulted in one fatality, with an unconfirmed number of additional victims. All victims, including Battie, are receiving treatment at various undisclosed hospitals. According to Nathaniel Rodriguez of WFLA, the sheriff’s office stated the shooting occurred at 3:30 a.m. in the 3400 block of 17th Street. Authorities believe the shooting was an isolated incident. No motive has been identified, and no suspect is in custody at this time.
Auburn Running Back Brian Battie Injured in Shooting
Brian Battie at Auburn
Brian Battie joined Auburn last season after transferring from South Florida. During his first three seasons with the Bulls, he rushed for 1,186 yards in 2022, scoring eight touchdowns and averaging 6.7 yards per carry. Battie’s impressive performance placed him in the top five for rushing yards in the American Athletic Conference, despite South Florida winning only one game that season.
He was an outstanding kick returner for the Bulls, amassing over 600 yards in both 2021 and 2022. In 2021, he returned three kicks for touchdowns, including one for 100 yards.
In his first year at Auburn, Brian Battie shared playing time with Jarquez Hunter and Damari Alston, contributing to the team’s total of 2,457 rushing yards. In the 2023 season, Battie rushed for 227 yards and scored one touchdown, helping Auburn secure a fourth-place finish in the SEC. Although he considered entering the transfer portal, Battie ultimately chose to stay with the Tigers. With Battie returning alongside Hunter, Alston, and the emerging talent of Jeremiah Cobb, Auburn is poised to have one of the best running back rooms in the SEC on paper.
Battie is originally from Sarasota, Florida. Last Word on College Football will provide updates as further details emerge.