An "unknown" number of student-athletes were suspended from the Auburn Tigers football program following a video allegedly showing junior running back Jarquez Hunter engaging in sexual activities, per Outkick. The video was leaked on Twitter by an account titled "Jarquez Exposed," which, at the time of this writing, is no longer available after it was suspended for trying to charge $5 to view it. It began making the rounds on Thursday, May 18.
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"We are aware of the situation and takes this matter very seriously," Auburn announced in a statement. "The appropriate offices are conducting a thorough review. Indefinite suspensions have been issued for violation of applicable Auburn Athletics department policy. No further comment will be provided at this time."
BREAKING: Auburn University official statement on the Jarquez Hunter situation. pic.twitter.com/7uwUc8O3xn
— Brian Stultz (@brianjstultz) May 18, 2023
The school is still investigating the video that appeared on social media, and it's unknown if the parties knew they were being recorded. The school hasn't released the complete list of suspended players indefinitely, and it's not confirmed that Hunter was among them. The university reportedly handed down suspensions—not the athletic department.
Hunter, who's at the center of this scandal, rushed for 668 yards on 104 carries in 2022. This marks the first "controversy" at the school since it hired Hugh Freeze as the head football coach.
Freeze, the former head coach of Ole Miss and Liberty, has also been involved in sexual scandals.
Revisiting the Hugh Freeze Scandal
Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images
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Freeze was hired by Auburn University on November 29, 2022, to a six-year, $6.5 million per year contract. This came after he spent 2019-2022 with Liberty to refresh his image after his tenure with Ole Miss ended abruptly in 2016. He replaced Bryan Harsin, who lasted 21 games with the program after going 9-12.
The head coach of Ole Miss from 2012-2016 saw his coaching career almost dissolve completely due to events that transpired before, during, and after the NCAA charged Ole Miss in January 2016 with multiple recruiting violations. This led to more investigation after former Ole Miss offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil admitted to taking money from Freeze's assistants. Ole Miss then withdrew from bowl consideration the following season. In total, there were 21 allegations brought toward Freeze and the program.
Later, during a lawsuit that featured Houston Nutt suing Ole Miss for defamation, it was discovered through a freedom-of-information request that Freeze made calls with a university-issued phone to a female escort service. At first, Freeze claimed it was a "misdialed number." Still, as the investigation unfolded, it discovered at least a dozen calls made over 33 months. In July 2017, Freeze was asked to resign or be fired. Freeze resigned.
How will Freeze, who's been involved with his baggage, handle this? We'll have to wait to see how this story continues to develop.
For now, social media is already bringing up Freeze's scandals now that he's engulfed in one at Auburn.
Wait. So you’re telling me the first scandal out of Auburn since hiring Hugh Freeze involves sex? pic.twitter.com/gbfOjImsCV
— Courtney McKinney (@CourtAnne1225) May 18, 2023
