The 2003 Auburn Running Back Room Would Have Been Impossible to Keep Together in the Transfer Portal Era Today

The 2003 Auburn Tigers’ running back room might go down as one of the most ridiculous collections of talent ever assembled at one position in college football history. Think about it — not one, but two future top-five NFL Draft picks, plus a future Super Bowl champion and 1,000-yard rusher in the NFL, all wearing the same uniform, competing for carries. You almost have to rub your eyes when reading the roster breakdown from that year. Ronnie Brown. Cadillac Williams. Brandon Jacobs. And for the die-hard Auburn fans or trivia nuts, yes, Tre Smith was there too, doing his part as the forgotten man in that star-studded rotation.

It feels almost impossible now. In 2025, with the Transfer Portal booming and players hopping schools at the first sign of limited snaps, there is no way — zero chance — that group would’ve stayed together more than one season. Back then, these guys embraced competition, rode out the process, and bet on themselves. Today? At least two of them would’ve hit the portal faster than they hit the hole on an inside zone run.

Let’s set the stage for what made that room so special — and why it would be unrecognizable in the modern era.

First, there was Carnell “Cadillac” Williams, Auburn royalty and one of the most electrifying backs in SEC history. Cadillac arrived at Auburn as a five-star prospect from Alabama, and he lived up to the hype from day one. He had speed, power, vision — and the confidence to know he could be the guy. By 2003, Cadillac was established as a premier weapon, poised to build his résumé for the NFL.

But sharing the backfield with him was Ronnie Brown, a freak of nature in his own right. Bigger than Cadillac, yet almost as fast, Brown had versatility that screamed “future NFL star.” He could line up wide, run inside, catch passes — the modern all-purpose back before it became trendy. In today’s college landscape, Brown likely would’ve scanned the depth chart, seen Williams ahead of him, and jumped into the portal to find immediate starting reps elsewhere. But in 2003, he stuck around, battled for snaps, and carved out his role as Auburn’s ultimate Swiss Army knife.

And then, the wild card: Brandon Jacobs, the human battering ram. Listed at 6-foot-4, 260 pounds, Jacobs looked like a defensive end but ran like a tailback. His combination of size and raw athleticism made him a mismatch nightmare — but also the odd man out in terms of touches. Even with his undeniable potential, Jacobs found himself buried behind Cadillac and Brown. In the current era, he wouldn’t have waited. He wouldn’t have been third string long enough to unpack his dorm room. Instead, he’d be in the portal, taking official visits and hearing every coach in America sell him on being their feature back.

The proof? That’s basically what happened — just without the portal. Frustrated by limited opportunities, Jacobs did transfer after the 2003 season, landing at Southern Illinois, where he dominated the FCS level and parlayed that into an NFL career. He eventually became a two-time Super Bowl champion with the New York Giants, proving his ability when given the chance. In 2025? He’s not waiting until the offseason. He’s gone mid-spring, finding a new home before the Tigers even break fall camp.

The fascinating part isn’t just the hypothetical portal chaos; it’s the ripple effect on Auburn’s program. Would Cadillac Williams still have had his legendary moments if Jacobs or Brown left earlier? Would Ronnie Brown have been a top-five NFL pick if he transferred to a lesser program with fewer national eyes? Would Auburn’s 2004 undefeated season — the perfect capstone that saw both Cadillac and Brown torment defenses — even happen if the roster fractured before it began?

It’s all speculative, but it reflects a larger truth about how much the sport has changed. Back then, depth charts stacked with future pros were common. Today, they’re unsustainable. Players crave instant playing time, NIL opportunities, and clear paths to the NFL. Sticking around as a backup, even in a loaded room, feels almost obsolete.

Imagine trying to convince Ronnie Brown to stay after spring ball in 2025 if Cadillac is the entrenched starter. You’d have to back up the Brinks truck with NIL deals, promise specialty packages, and still pray the allure of the portal doesn’t pull him elsewhere. For Jacobs, good luck even keeping him in town after the first scrimmage where he gets five carries while Cadillac and Ronnie split the rest.

Even Tre Smith, the fourth man in the pecking order, likely doesn’t hang around. In today’s portal-driven ecosystem, Smith probably transfers down a level, earns starting reps, and gets his own spotlight.

The other piece? The impact on recruiting. In 2003, elite players committed knowing they’d have to wait their turn, grind, and compete. Today, top backs scan rosters like free agents, looking for the cleanest path to immediate touches. Auburn’s 2003 haul likely never materializes in 2025. One five-star? Sure. Maybe a second if they’re ultra-competitive. But stacking three NFL-caliber backs in the same room? Highly unlikely.

That doesn’t mean the 2025 era is worse — it’s just different. Players have more power, more flexibility, and more tools to control their careers. But with that freedom comes roster volatility that makes building depth charts like Auburn’s 2003 backfield nearly impossible.

Looking back, what Auburn assembled that season feels like a once-in-a-lifetime alignment of talent, patience, and competitive culture. Brown, Williams, and Jacobs all bet on themselves, sharpened each other, and, for a moment, coexisted within the same offense. The results? Historic. Cadillac finished his career as one of the SEC’s most beloved stars, Ronnie Brown skyrocketed up draft boards to go No. 2 overall in 2005, and Jacobs evolved into a household name in the NFL trenches.

Fast forward to 2025, and that kind of patience is extinct. The Transfer Portal — along with spring windows, midseason options, and NIL incentives — ensures that top players rarely wait in the shadows. It’s a revolving door, not a waiting room. Depth charts reshuffle overnight.

So when Auburn fans reminisce about 2003, it’s not just nostalgia — it’s acknowledgment that the college football world that allowed that backfield to exist no longer does. That room, stacked with future stars, was special, historic, and, in today’s landscape, utterly impossible.

And somewhere, Tre Smith is still chuckling — because in 2025, even he might have been RB1 at a mid-major with the right portal timing.