MIRAMAR BEACH, Fla. — The beginning of coach Hugh Freeze's second season with Auburn football is less than 100 days away.

The Tigers, looking to secure their first winning record since 2020, made a number of changes this offseason in hopes of better setting themselves up for more success in 2024 than they had in 2023. From incoming defensive transfers such as Keyron Crawford (Arkansas State) and Jerrin Thompson (Texas) to notable offensive freshmen like Cam Coleman and Perry Thompson, there seems to be more hope heading into Year 2 of the Freeze era.

But hope doesn't increase the total in the win column. Talent does. More particularly, putting that talent to use.

With the season approaching and the roster largely set, below is who we think will lead Auburn in a few notable stats next season. Some categories with an obvious answer, such as leading passer (Payton Thorne), have been omitted.

NEWCOMERS: 5 freshmen who have best shot of contributing in Year 1, including WR Cam Coleman

HOOPS: Identifying an area of improvement for every returning Auburn basketball player

Leading receiver: Rivaldo Fairweather

Former Florida International tight end Rivaldo Fairweather was one of the few bright spots as a pass-catcher for the Tigers in 2023. He led in this stat last year, and even with the added talent around him, things are lining up for him to once again be the leader. The new pieces — Coleman, Thompson and Penn State transfer KeAndre Lambert-Smith, among others — could, and perhaps should, make things easier for Fairweather, since he'll be less of a focal point for defenses to key in on.

Leading rusher: Jarquez Hunter

Senior running back Jarquez Hunter will have to work to get his snaps, splitting duties with a couple of other pieces in the backfield. One of those competing with Hunter is sophomore Jeremiah Cobb, who will surely see increased reps in his second year with the program. But Hunter is the veteran, and his career average of 6.2 yards per rush makes him an efficient option. Amongst returning RBs in the SEC, Hunter tallied the most rushing yards last season (909).

Leader in touchdowns: Jarquez Hunter

Hunter notched seven rushing touchdowns in 2023, and that was with an offense that struggled to put the ball in the end zone often. With things expected to run more efficiently this time around, expect the Tigers to have more opportunities in the red zone. That means more chances for Hunter to get the ball down near the goal line and find a path to pay dirt.

Leading tackler: Eugene Asante

Already with five seasons of collegiate experience, veteran linebacker Eugene Asante is back with the Tigers after a breakout season in 2023 that featured him registering 86 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss and five sacks. Asante often served as the heart of an Auburn defense that played admirably in 2023, especially considering how much the offense struggled. In his final year of eligibility, Asante has plenty left to prove if he wants to reach the NFL.

Leader in sacks: Jalen McLeod

Crawford or freshmen Jamonta Waller and Amaris Williams will likely take some snaps away from Jalen McLeod at pass rusher in 2024, but all that means is the former Appalachian State transfer will have fresher legs when he's on the field. McLeod, in his first season making the transition from the Sun Belt to the SEC, tallied career-high marks in tackles (48) and tackles for loss (10.5). He also finished with 5.5 sacks. Considering the position he plays, McLeod may be the most valuable player on Auburn's defense.

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

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Auburn football: Predicting stat leaders for Tigers in 2024