AUBURN, Ala. – From LSU to Chattahoochee Valley to Auburn, Rankin Woley's college baseball career has been a journey. He was looking for a second chance when he arrived on The Plains in 2019, and it's exactly what he found.
Going the junior college route after spending his freshman season at LSU, Woley was able to discover his own game by playing for himself and not trying to be something he wasn't. Similarly, Auburn was ultimately the perfect place for Woley with a coaching staff that also gave him the freedom to be his own player.
"Coach Thompson has been absolutely unbelievable," Woley said. "Development wise, I feel like I've gotten so much better as a baseball player. Honestly, as a better person, too, thanks to all those coaches. It could not have been a better fit.
"The coaching staff was awesome with me and gave me a lot of freedom. That's how I really do well and thrive. That's my thing. If I have the freedom, I'm going to hold up my end of the bargain on and off the field. I'm going to be the best player I can be."
Woley started 64 games at first base a season ago before making the switch to third base in 2020. Prior to the season's abrupt end, Woley was leading the team in batting average, doubles, RBI and slugging percentage. He was also the only player in college baseball to rank in the top 20 in hits, doubles and RBI.
"How he learned to play first base was impressive," head coach Butch Thompson said. "Then, when we worked this fall, we thought it was best for him to get some reps at third base to see if he could do that. He played a great third base. Most of the time, third basemen moves to first. It's not very often that first basemen move to third, so he's skilled."
Aside from his skill on the field, Woley's work off the diamond might be even more impressive. He has maintained a 3.94 GPA throughout his time on The Plains and is on track to graduate in August with a degree in business administration from Auburn's Harbert College of Business.
The Atlanta, Georgia native was recently named Auburn's Scholar-Athlete of the Year at this year's virtual AUSPY Awards. It's part of the legacy that he hopes to leave behind for the younger guys on the team. He wants to be remembered as the absolute best student and athlete he could possibly be.
"I appreciate him making the most of his chance and opportunity that Auburn gave him," Thompson said. "When he caught that baseball to record that last out to put us into Omaha, everybody was going crazy and you're in the euphoria of that moment, and Rankin comes up to give me that baseball. The level of respect he's shown me, and the commitment he's made to Auburn, and all these gifts of his brain - it's like having another coach on the field. He's not just thinking about himself."
That moment in Chapel Hill when he recorded the final three outs to seal the Tigers' first College World Series berth since 1997 before handing the ball over to his head coach is Woley's favorite moment as a Tiger. However, it's just a piece of how he hopes the Auburn Family remembers him.
"I want them to remember that I was more than just an athlete," Woley said. "I was an Auburn man. I loved Auburn through-and-through. I held up my end of the bargain. That's something I want everybody to know. When I transferred, there weren't a whole lot of people willing to take a chance on me, and Auburn did. Auburn has been everything I could have wanted it to be and more.
"I tried every single day and night to hold up my end of the bargain and be the absolute best student-athlete I possibly could be. I like to think I did that," Woley added. "The coaches putting their time and investment into me, I wanted to be the absolute best investment that I possibly could be. I definitely want that to be remembered."