Tank Bigsby often got reminders in the form of text messages from Cadillac Williams.

Be yourself, Williams told him. It was a message that was repeated to Bigsby throughout the pre-draft process as he prepared for the next step in his career after three solid seasons at Auburn. Those words of encouragement were received warmly by Bigsby, who never lost track of who he is — and who he wants to be.

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“I want to be known as Tank,” Bigsby said at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis. “I want to be known as me. I want to be known as one of the greatest when I’m done. I want to do things guys never did and work my butt off until I get there.”

Bigsby will get the opportunity to do that with the Jacksonville Jaguars, who selected him in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft with the 88th overall pick. Bigsby is the second Auburn player off the board in this year’s draft, joining Jacksonville.

His selection comes following a productive three-year career at Auburn, where he signed as part of the Tigers’ 2020 class as a four-star recruit, top-40 player nationally and the fourth-rated running back coming out of high school that year.

At Auburn, Bigsby quickly established himself as the Tigers’ No. 1 running back, earning the starting role as a freshman during the pandemic-impacted 2020 season. Against an SEC-only schedule that year, Bigsby ran for 834 yards and five touchdowns in 10 games, averaging 6.04 yards per carry and winning SEC Freshman of the Year. He eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark as a sophomore, becoming the first Auburn player to hit that plateau since Kerryon Johnson in 2017, even as his explosiveness took a step back. Bigsby’s sophomore campaign ended with 1,099 yards and 10 touchdowns but his yard-per-carry average dropped to 4.93.

Bigsby considered transferring after that season, but following a productive sitdown with Williams, he reaffirmed his commitment to Auburn and returned for a third season as the Tigers’ featured back. Bigsby followed it up with 970 yards and 10 more touchdowns as a junior, and he improved his average to 5.42 yards per carry during a trying season for Auburn, which fired coach Bryan Harsin at the end of October and finished with a second consecutive losing season.

Bigsby declared for the draft after the season and finished his Auburn career as the program’s seventh all-time leading rusher, with 2,903 rushing yards on his resume to go with 25 touchdowns and 13 career 100-yard performances.

Already solidified as one of the best backs to come through Auburn—which has had no shortage of greats at the position — Bigsby will now try to establish himself at the next level as he begins his NFL career with the Jaguars.

Tom Green is an Auburn beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Tomas_Verde.