Former Auburn player alleges Bryan Harsin treats players ‘like dogs’

Former Auburn football player Lee Hunter says Tigers head coach Bryan Harsin treats his players like dogs and is a terrible person.

Lee Hunter may still love the Auburn football program, but the UCF transfer had some bad things to say about Tigers head coach Bryan Harsin over Instagram.

Hunter said the reason he decided to leave Auburn was because of how players were treated. “We got treated like we wasn’t good enough and like dogs.” While he did say that Harsin “has the true mindset for a winner”, he countered that by saying he “has a terrible mindset as a person.” Hunter left Auburn only a few weeks ago before committing to play for Gus Malzhan at UCF on Jan. 21.

His comments may be an indication why the Auburn to UCF pipeline for players has been flowing.

Hunter’s Instagram post has been liked by 19 players from the 2021 Auburn football team.

Lee Hunter alleges Bryan Harsin treats Auburn football players like dogs

Harsin had success at Boise State and Arkansas State, but he is coming off a rough first year at Auburn. The Tigers finished the year 6-7 after losing the Birmingham Bowl in their own backyard to Houston. Starting quarterback Bo Nix transferred to Oregon. Three coordinators have all left this offseason in Mike Bobo to Georgia, Derek Mason to Oklahoma State and now Austin Davis.

With rumors of an extramarital affair circulating, one allegation that could cost Harsin his job and be fired for cause, his seat is already on fire entering spring practice. Even though his wife Kes chalked those rumors up to that and nothing more, Harsin may not be for long down on The Plains. The only cure to this type of criticism is winning, but even that may not be enough for him.

John Talty of AL.com reports “there’s been a concerted effort to ramp up pressure and make it untenable for Bryan Harsin to return for Year 2.”

The combination of massive exodus of players like Hunter to the transfer portal, as well as one coach after another seemingly running for the hill have only exacerbated this notion. Tatly said this situation is moving very quickly, so that could mean Auburn athletic director Allen Greene may be forced to make a decision sooner rather than later. Harsin could seriously go one-and-done now.

Things may have been more toxic within the Auburn football program than outsides even realized.

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