Auburn Football: Five Redshirt Freshman Ready to Contribute

Oct 19, 2013; College Station, TX, USA; Auburn Tigers taped football shoes on the field before the game against the Texas A&M Aggies at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

Kamryn Pettway, HB

The Auburn football depth chart is packed with top notch running backs. Roc Thomas and Jovon Robinson – a pair of recent five-star prospects – give the Tigers two players capable of becoming the next Tigers’ running back to reach the 1,000-yard mark or even lead the SEC in rushing. There’s also Peyton Barber, who is a talented tailback in his own right, as well as highly touted incoming freshman Kerryon Johnson, who will join the team this summer.

But that doesn’t mean Kamryn Pettway – ranked among the nation’s top 20 running backs in the 2014 recruiting class by ESPN.com – won’t see the field. He’s just likely to be opening holes for Thomas, Robinson and company instead of running through them himself. Pettway is now an H-Back.

A change in position for Pettway had been speculated widely since the 2014 season, and for good reason. In addition to the crowded backfield, Pettway was ranked as the nation’s best fullback prospect by Rivals.com last year. Therefore, when head coach Gus Malzahn officially announced the change last week, few were surprised.

With C.J. Uzomah and Brandon Fulse leaving after splitting time at tight end and H-Back last season, Pettway has a chance to play often as a redshirt freshman. And his size (6-foot, 239 pounds) and athletic skill set offers an interesting set of options.

“Kamryn is so athletic. For a big guy, he’s very athletic. He’s light on his feet. He’s very physical, and I think he’s got a chance to really help us there,” offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee said during a post-practice media session Saturday.

Pettway will compete with early enrollee Chandler Cox for the top spot on the depth chart.

Next: Chris Laye