Like many in the Auburn football community, Derrick Nix has been shocked and grief-stricken by the recent shooting of Tigers running back Brian Battie.

But it hits a little closer to home, because Nix is not only Auburn’s offensive coordinator, but also Battie’s position coach. Nix said Thursday night he and those close to him have been dealing with the circumstances — Battie remains hospitalized in Florida and reportedly might be permanently paralyzed after being shot in the head during a May 18 incident that killed his brother, Tommie — as best they can.

“My heart has been heavy,” Nix said prior to an appearance at the Annual First Light Community of Mobile Football Preview and Mobile Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the Mitchell Center. “Our team, our players, our heart has been heavy. What’s going on with Brian, we pray for him. We did today as a staff.

“I try to stay in constant communication with his parents and what’s going on. I actually got a chance to go and visit with him last week. It’s unfortunate, and we’re trying to do our best to stay positive about the situation.”

Nix was part of a panel of speakers Thursday night that also included South Alabama head coach Major Applewhite, as well as the Hall of Fame inductions of Joe Gottfried, Pat White, Captain Munnerlyn, Kelli Ogden Hillier and the late Carvel “Bama” Rowell. White, the former Daphne High School, West Virginia and Miami Dolphins quarterback who is now on staff with the NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers, was also Battie’s position coach at South Florida in 2020 and asked for a moment of silent prayer for Battie and his family prior to his induction speech.

Nix grew up an Auburn fan in Attala, but followed his older brother, Tyrone, to Southern Miss after a standout career at Etowah High School. Despite missing an entire season and part of another with a kidney ailment, Nix was a three-time 1,000-yard rusher for the Golden Eagles from 1998-2002.

He later worked on staff at Southern Miss before spending 16 years in a variety of coaching roles at Ole Miss, but never lost his passion for Auburn. So when head coach Hugh Freeze in January offered him the opportunity to become the Tigers’ primary offensive playcaller, he jumped at it.

“It means everything,” Nix said. “I grew up in this state, I grew up going to Auburn (games). To get an opportunity to be a part of this great tradition, being here with coach Freeze and the culture that he’s establishing, being with these great players, being with this great community here, it means everything. I can stick my chest up high and say that I’m the offensive coordinator and running backs coach here.”

Nix will be charged with helping improve an Auburn offense that ranked 10th in the 14-team SEC in yards per game (351.2), 11th in points per game (26.2) and last in passing yards per game (162.2) in 2023, Freeze’s first year as head coach. The Tigers finished 6-7, their third consecutive losing season.

But Nix and the Tigers will have some new weapons this season, chief among them 5-star freshman wide receiver Cam Coleman. The former Central Phenix City star was Auburn’s A-Day spring game Most Valuable Player, when he caught four passes for 92 yards, including a 34-yard touchdown.

“I don’t want to put a cap on it,” Nix said when asked about Coleman’s potential. “I think you saw flashes of it. I think that probably the greatest asset he has right now — he’s a humble kid. He has great humility for a guy being recruited like he was recruited, coming out of high school. Going through the spring and having some success, he’s probably harder on himself than the coaching staff is, and that’s what I love about him.”

Nix was also asked about fellow star receiver recruit Perry Thompson of Foley, but demurred given that Thompson was not present for spring practice. He enrolled along with the remaining Auburn freshmen and transfers earlier this week.

“He just got here, actually,” Nix said. “He just started class Tuesday, so I’ll tell you more later.”

The man who will be throwing the ball to Coleman, Thompson and others is also a source of intrigue for the Tigers this season. Quarterback Payton Thorne had two solid seasons as a starter at Michigan State, but was less consistent in his first season at Auburn, throwing for 1,755 yards and 16 touchdowns but 10 interceptions.

Nix said Thorne has spent much of the offseason trying to “establish his leadership.”

“I think the quarterback, naturally at times, has to be that guy; he has to be an extension of the coaching staff,” Nix said. “He’s taking taking the bull by the horns, so to speak, and he’s trying to do that, football-wise. He’s doing a great job of managing and taking care of the football, making really better football decisions.”

In addition to working with the team he grew up rooting for, Nix said the chance to reunite with Freeze was a big reason he chose to come to Auburn. The two worked together at Ole Miss from 2012-16, Freeze as head coach, Nix as running backs coach.

Nix also said the opportunity to call plays was a big draw for changing jobs after 16 years with the Rebels. And despite his background as a running back and running backs coach, Nix said Auburn fans will likely see a slightly more wide-open offensive philosophy with him at the controls.

“You’ll probably see us put the ball in the air a little bit more,” Nix said. “I think though our calling card in the SEC has been being able to run the football. I think we have a strong offensive line coming back and I think we’ve got some veteran tailback. So that will always be a staple for us.”

Auburn opens the 2024 season at home Aug. 31 vs. Alabama A&M.

First Light Community of Mobile (formerly L’Arche Mobile), which celebrates its 50th anniversary in November, states as its mission that men and women with and without intellectual disabilities share life, and operates six homes and an activity center in the Mobile area. For more information, visit FirstLightCommunity.org.