Auburn Football: Outback Bowl Practices Will Offer Sneak Peek of 2015 Stars
Oct 11, 2014; Starkville, MS, USA; Auburn Tigers running back Roc Thomas (9) carries the ball during the game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Davis Wade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Spruce Derden-USA TODAY Sports
With Artis-Payne and Corey Grant departing, Jeremy Johnson will be handing off to Roc Thomas, Peyton Barber and Jovon Robinson next year.
Thomas and Barber have shown flashes, and Robinson will hopefully be a part of bowl preparations as a JUCO transfer (a handful of new signees could be there as well).
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Thomas is likely to be the team’s top returning rusher in 2015. He has 228 yards this season on 43 carries and has scored twice. He’s also the top option to handle kick return duties, though that might change if he emerges as the top ball carrier. Barber has 54 rushing yards on just ten carries and has only played in six games this season.
On passing plays, Johnson will throw to Ricardo Louis, Marcus Davis, Jaylon Denson and Melvin Ray primarily next season if D’haquille Williams and/or Sammie Coates leave early for the NFL, as expected, and when Quan Bray graduates.
Ray was on the receiving end of Johnson’s first touchdown pass this season – a 49-yard catch and run – but he’s caught only six other passes this season and has 177 total receiving yards. Louis has been the most productive with 195 receiving yards and two touchdowns on 20 catches, and has also rushed for 179 yards on 15 carries.
Stanton Truitt has a similar skill set to Bray, and will play a lot in 2015, but he’s recovering from an injury. One-time starting quarterback Jonathan Wallace has seen time at wide receiver recently and could be called on in 2015 as well.
Next: Offensive Line and Tight End