Auburn offensive coordinator Philip Montgomery learned how quickly Brian Battie can change the dynamic of an offense last season as Tulsa’s head coach against Battie at the University of South Florida.

Battie rushed for 169 yards on 19 carries in a 48-42 Tulsa win. Montgomery’s defense game-planned intensely to slow down Battie. Tulsa won a wild game, but Battie was a shining star.

“He was the guy we needed to stop, for sure,” Montgomery said. Because he’s electric with the ball in his hands. And if you notice, he doesn’t take many straight-on hard hits if you go back and truly watch his tapes. He’s a guy that understands how to maneuver himself and find ways to stay positive and finish forward.”

Battie had over 1,000 rushing yards last season and, in 2021, was a consensus All-American player on special teams as a kickoff and punt returner. He’s catching the attention of his teammates during spring football.

“He definitely adds some speed and quickness. He’s a really quick guy. He can obviously take kicks back as well. I just feel like he adds the speed and quickness we need in the room.”

In a sign of the times for the ever-changing world of college football, the path to Auburn for Battie inadvertently started on Nov 19 at Tulsa’s stadium. Montgomery told Auburn running back coach Cadillac Williams to check out Battie’s film.

“The first guy is never going to bring him down or tackle him. He always—also, he’s a smaller guy, but he’s a natural runner between the tackles,” Williams told AL.com in February. “He’s a running back. He’s a football player. He’s a guy that understands leverage and angles, a guy that’s going to break tackles, and he’s strong, and he’s very competitive, and he wants to be one of the best. We are getting a complete back that I think can do it all.”

Battie continues to impress as spring practice heads into its final week before the Apr 8 spring game.

“The thing about Brian and he’s got really good speed,” Montgomery said. “But the thing that you notice when you’re around him or even as as person that played against him, he is very, very difficult to tackle. Right? And he does a great job of setting up blocks, being patient.”

Nubyjas Wilborn covers Auburn for Alabama Media Group.