AUBURN — Former South Florida running back Brian Battie has entered the transfer portal after spending one season at Auburn football, a source confirmed to the Montgomery Advertiser on Monday.

Battie, a three-star recruit in the Class of 2020 out of Sarasota High School in Florida, played three seasons with the Bulls before he transferred to Auburn in January 2023. He totaled 1,841 rushing yards at USF, including a breakout campaign in 2022 that saw him tally 1,185 yards on the ground.

The 5-foot-7, 170-pound Battie was also an All-American kick returner in 2021 when he averaged 32.5 yards per return and housed three kickoffs. He continued his work as a returner at Auburn, averaging 23 yards per return on 28 attempts this past season.

Battie totaled 279 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown on 58 touches in 2023. With his departure, Auburn has four scholarship running backs remaining on the roster: Jarquez Hunter, Damari Alston, Jeremiah Cobb and Sean Jackson. Hunter has not announced a decision regarding whether or not he plans to go to the NFL or return for a fourth season with the Tigers.

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Richard Silva is the Auburn athletics beat writer for the Montgomery Advertiser. He can be reached via email at rsilva@gannett.com or on Twitter @rich_silva18.

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Brian Battie enters portal after one season at Auburn football