AUBURN, Ala. – Looking back two decades later on his record-setting performance, the memories remain vivid for Auburn's Carnell Williams.
"It feels like it was just yesterday," he said. "Got in the zone and felt like I couldn't be tackled. Momentum is powerful and I had a lot of momentum that day."
On Oct. 18, 2003, Williams rushed for six touchdowns in the Tigers' 45-13 victory vs. Mississippi State, an Auburn record that still stands.
Williams scored five touchdowns in the first half on runs of 72, 3, 22, 17 and 2 yards. In the third quarter he added a 6-yard scoring run.
"The offensive line did a heck of a job coming off the ball," he said. "If you watch, in a lot of those clips I'm up on the safety and making a guy miss so I've got to give credit to those guys."
In addition to Auburn's O-line, Williams also benefited from blocks by fullbacks Jake Slaughter and Brandon Johnson.
"You're talking about downhill, rugged guys," Williams said. "All they wanted to do is blow up people. Those guys making that way for me made my job a lot easier."
Williams' first touchdown run ranks among the finest of any Auburn back in any era. Running to his left, he received a pitch from quarterback Jason Campbell 6 yards behind the line of scrimmage and cut outside before colliding with a defender 8 yards downfield.
"It was a toss, they pitched he to me," he recalled. "I can remember putting my foot in the ground. The nickel Sam was unblocked there and I got an opportunity to square him up. I just jumped in his chest and wound up breaking that tackle. The rest was history."
After the collision, Williams remained 64 yards from the end zone. After sprinting free for 30 yards down the sideline, he cut back to the middle to avoid Mississippi State's last line of defense, two Bulldogs who reached for him near State's 35-yard line.
"That single run, to be able to run through somebody, break that tackle and take it to the house, that got me mentally going that day," Williams said.
Ironically, despite scoring six TDs, Cadillac did not lead the Tigers in rushing that day. Brandon Jacobs rushed 31 times for 182 yards while Williams gained 161 yards on 15 carries.
Williams concluded his Auburn career (2001-04) with a program-record 45 rushing touchdowns. His 3,831 rushing yards ranks second behind Bo Jackson.
Twenty years later, in his fifth season as Auburn's running backs coach, Williams recruits and coaches the student-athletes he hopes will one day equal or better his record.
"I'm honored and excited to still have that record but hopefully it will be broken soon by somebody right here at Auburn," he said.
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer