Auburn starting running back Jarquez Hunter said he remains undecided if he will return for the 2024 season.

Hunter spoke with reporters at the Woltosz Football Performance Center on Tuesday, and said he remains focused currently on his preparation for the Music City Bowl on Dec. 30.

He said his thoughts on returning next year or leaving for the NFL swung back and forth during the 2023 season, and he still has not made up his mind by mid-December.

He said he does not yet have a timetable to make a decision, either.

Hunter has one remaining year of eligibility, should he choose to use it.

With 865 yards, Hunter was Auburn’s leading rusher in 2023. That fit the role he was expected to have, touted before the season to be Auburn’s best weapon on offense.

Hunter’s play gradually improved as the season went on. After failing to rush for 100 yards in any of Auburn’s first seven games, he broke that mark in three of the final five games and was arguably the biggest catalyst for Auburn’s offensive turnaround in the latter stretch of the season.

But the 2023 season for Hunter was defined by its uncertainty.

Auburn faced frequent questions about Hunter’s status over the summer, tracing back to a sex tape leaked on Twitter that allegedly showed Hunter. Auburn’s statement about indefinite suspensions came soon after. The Montgomery Advertiser reported that an Auburn spokesperson said the suspensions related to “videos that were posted on social media.” Allegedly, other Auburn players were involved with the video.

The first time head coach Hugh Freeze was asked about Hunter came at the SEC Spring Meetings in May in Destin, Florida. It was fewer than two weeks after Auburn’s initial statement on suspensions.

“We don’t comment on individuals and their status with any disciplinary issues within our school,” Freeze said then. “I really don’t have a comment on that.”

The next time Freeze was asked came at SEC Media Days in July in Nashville. Freeze could not say if Hunter would be able to participate in fall camp. He also did not say if any players would face suspensions.

“I can’t comment on University policies or procedures,” Freeze said when asked about Hunter.

Hunter did not play at the start of fall camp practices on Aug. 3. The first time he was seen during periods of practice open to the media was on Aug. 8. He practiced in every Auburn practice from there, during periods open to reporters.

Hunter did not drees and did not play in Auburn’s season opener against UMass on Sept. 2. He returned and played the following week against Cal and played in every game for the remainder of the season.

Should Hunter return, it would likely mean all four of Auburn’s top running backs would be back from a team that rushed for 2,692 yards this season and averaged five yards per attempt.

Matt Cohen covers Auburn sports for AL.com. You can follow him on X at @Matt_Cohen_ or email him at [email protected]