Auburn's passing game suffered in two seasons under coach Bryan Harsin, putting serious pressure on Tank Bigsby and the Tigers' running game to carry the load. Under tough circumstances, Bigsby rose to the occasion.
The three-year contributor is now set to be selected in the NFL Draft and get the opportunity to make an impact out of a new team's backfield.
While Bigsby boasts one of the best names in the draft, he wasn't born as Tank. That nickname is earned, whether as a toddler or as a football player. For Bigsby, the name works both ways.
TSN'S NFL DRAFT HQ
Live picks tracker | 7-round mock draft | Top 200 big board
Here's what you need to know about how Bigsby earned his "Tank" nickname.
How did Tank Bigsby get his nickname?
Bigsby's birth name is Cartavious Bigsby. That's a pretty epic name itself, but it's tough to argue with "Tank."
The Montgomery Adviser reported that Bigsby has had his nickname since he was a toddler.
"He constantly ran into things around the house. Sometimes it would knock him over. But it never bothered him. He just got up and kept on going," the outlet said, attributing the nickname to his father and aunt when he was about a year old.
It wasn't until the beginning of his high school years that he started going by the name "Tank."
As a running back, Bigsby qualifies as a tank. He's 6-0 and 210 pounds, placing him among the tallest prospects at a position known for shorter but still powerful players.
Instead of bumping into household items, Bigsby has spent the last three years bullying SEC defenders to the tune of 5.4 yards per carry. Translating that kind of efficiency to the NFL will be his next task.
Bigsby isn't the only Tank in this year's draft. Houston receiver Nathaniel "Tank" Dell also dons the nickname, but not at all because of his (current) size.
Dell is one of the smallest players in the draft at 5-8 and 165 pounds. His "Tank" nickname actually came from his mother, who was surprised by the large size of his head when he was a baby. Obviously, it wasn't a good indicator of the future.
MORE: Anthony Richardson, Jalen Carter, Hendon Hooker among the riskiest picks in the 2023 NFL Draft
Tank Bigsby NFL mock draft
SN's Vinnie Iyer has Bigsby landing with the Falcons with the 75th overall pick in his seven-round mock draft. Bigsby is the fifth running back off the board, behind Bijan Robinson, Jahmyr Gibbs, Roschon Johnson, and Devon Achane.
Bigsby is a projected third- or fourth-round pick, but that doesn't mean he can't make an instant impact in the NFL. Day 2 and Day 3 running backs and increasingly playing major roles at the next level, with Isiah Pacheco's quick rise up the Chiefs' depth chart a recent example.
In the right situation, Bigsby is powerful enough to serve as a third-down or goal-line back as a rookie.
