Auburn Tigers Eagerly Await Brian Battie’s Return, Despite Tragic Shooting.

DALLAS — Former USF football star Brian Battie remains in the hearts and minds of his Auburn teammates as he recovers from a shooting that occurred in May. As the Tigers prepare for a season without his regular presence, they continue to support him.

“Auburn quarterback Payton Thorne shared on Thursday during SEC media days, ‘We’re still praying for Brian and his family during this time. We look forward to seeing him again, and we hope to have him back at the facility soon. I’m eager to talk to him when that happens.’”

Battie, 22, was shot in the head in his hometown of Sarasota, and his 24-year-old brother, Tommie, was tragically killed in the incident.

According to a recent update on his family’s GoFundMe page, Battie is making progress. He can now eat without restrictions and has been moved to the intensive rehabilitation unit at Sarasota Memorial Hospital.

“Praise God for that,” Thorne remarked.

Battie, who transferred to Auburn from USF last season, was a standout returner and made a significant impact both on and off the field. He had previously shined at USF, leading in kickoff returns in 2021 and rushing for over 1,100 yards in 2022.

“He was one of the best teammates I’ve had,” said Tigers defensive lineman Keldric Faulk. Despite being new to the team, Battie quickly built strong friendships. Faulk described him as fun, energetic, and genuine, which made his shooting all the more difficult to process.

“It was a traumatic experience for us,” Faulk said. “You never expect something like this to happen to a teammate. We pray for him every day and keep him in our thoughts. I’m looking forward to having him back with us.”