Cadillac Williams returning to Auburn as Gus Malzahn's running backs coach
AUBURN, Alabama — Gus Malzahn has a former Auburn defensive lineman (Rodney Garner) coaching the defensive line, a former Auburn linebacker (Travis Williams) coaching the linebackers and a former Auburn wide receiver (Kodi Burns) coaching the wide receivers.
Now, the seventh-year head coach will have a former Auburn running back coaching the team's running backs.
Carnell "Cadillac" Williams has been named Tigers' new running backs coach, the program announced Wednesday. The 36-year-old replaces Tim Horton, who coached that position during each of Malzahn's first six seasons before being reassigned to an off-field role earlier this month.
"Carnell Williams is one of Auburn's all-time greats and we're excited to welcome him home," Malzahn said in a statement. "Cadillac is a great fit for our program. He understands and cares deeply for this university and the Auburn football program, while bringing a great knowledge of the game. He knows first-hand what it takes to be a successful running back at the highest level and has a tremendous work ethic.
"We're glad to have him at Auburn and know he will be a great coach and mentor to our running backs."
The Gadsden, Alabama, native starred on the Plains from 2001 to 2004, rushing for at least 600 yards in all four seasons he played at Auburn and at least 1,100 in each of the last two. He finished his career with 3,831 yards and 45 touchdowns on 741 carries, totals that rank second, first and first in program history, respectively.
"I'm ecstatic, super excited and humbled to have the opportunity to return home to Auburn and coach at a place that helped me become the man I am today," Williams said in a statement. "I'm very grateful and appreciative of Coach Malzahn, the staff and the Auburn administration for this opportunity. Words can't explain the emotions I had when I received the offer from Coach Malzahn."
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers took Williams with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2005 NFL draft. He earned Rookie of the Year honors that season after rushing for 1,078 yards and six touchdowns, but a series of knee injuries limited him to just seven seasons at the professional level.
Williams began his coaching career at Henderson State in 2015, served as an offensive graduate assistant at the University of West Georgia in 2016, then was the running backs coach at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, during each of the past two seasons. He was named the running backs coach of the Birmingham Iron of the Alliance of American Football this past October but will trade that opportunity for one with his alma mater.
This will be Williams' first coaching job at the Division I level, and as a recruiter.
The latter will be the primary charge for Williams, as it appears that is the reason Horton was removed — the longtime assistant has coached 10 different 1,000-yard rushers, but he was credited with signing only one recruit last cycle and has only one set to come in this year, per 247 Sports.
Williams will inherit a group of returning running backs that will be led by sophomore JaTarvious Whitlow (150 carries, 787 yards in 2018), senior Kam Martin (103 carries, 458 yards), sophomore Shaun Shivers (70 carries 371 yards) and should also include junior Malik Miller and redshirt freshman Harold Joiner, as well as DJ Williams and any other players Auburn signs.
Josh Vitale covers Auburn for The Montgomery Advertiser, which is part of the Paste BN Network. Follow him on Twitter @JoshVitale.