Roc Thomas Leaving Creates Depth Problem for Auburn at RB
The announcement Wednesday night that Roc Thomas would be transferring from Auburn to resume his collegiate career at Jacksonville State came as no surprise, but it does leave Auburn football in a difficult situation at running back.
Roc Thomas had yet to live up to his potential at Auburn, but many believed/hoped this would be the year he really broke out for the Tigers. However, Auburn fans will now have to sit back and possibly watch him excel with the in-state Gamecocks.
Roc Thomas was one of the most highly regarded running back recruits coming out of high school after being named Mr. Football in Alabama. In his first year at Auburn he carried the ball 43 times for 228 yards and 2 touchdowns, while catching just six passes for 27 yards.
He was number one on the depth chart at running back entering last season, but an ankle injury to start the year slowed him down and cost him his starting job as Peyton Barber and Jovon Robinson took over and excelled in the backfield.
More from Fly War Eagle
- Ex-star Auburn DL confronts ‘slant man’ in MNF post-game video
- Ex-Auburn star laments not getting to face fellow Heisman candidate
- Analyst expects third-year RB to take AU rushing lead from surprising transfer
- Hugh Freeze was the right hire to truly embrace Auburn
- Auburn football Jack LB: ‘We’ve got to earn our respect back’
Still, Thomas finished third on the team in rushing with 274 yards on 43 carries with a touchdown, and he became highly effective as a receiver with 200 yards on 11 receptions and a touchdown.
Even though he didn’t win the starting job out of spring, fans were still looking forward to him being a swing back like an Onterio McCalebb or Corey Grant in years past.
With Roc Thomas now out of the picture, the backfield depth comes a bit questionable. Sure there is a lot of talent at the position, but not a lot of experience with Barber and Thomas now gone.
Robinson is the clear number one back now, but he’s had his own injury problems in the past. Kerryon Johnson will slot him behind him after rushing for 208 yards and catching 14 passes for 159 yards his freshman season; however, he missed spring practice recovering from a shoulder injury.
Behind those two “veterans” you have newcomers Kamryn Pettway, Chandler Cox and Malik Miller. Pettway is a sophomore and is more of a fullback or H-back. Cox is also a sophomore with the same type of frame that will most likely put him at fullback. Miller is a freshman who enrolled early in January so he has that going for him, but I don’t think he’s someone Auburn can rely on to carry the load if Robinson or Johnson goes down.
Roc Thomas to Transfer from Auburn: Latest Comments and Reaction
So while the depth chart is five-deep, really there are only two running backs capable of running the ball in Malzahn’s offense right now in Robinson and Johnson. If those two were to go down for any amount of time it would be a real problem for the Auburn offense.
With the quarterback situation still undecided, Malzahn needs some consistency from the running game to take some of the pressure off of John Franklin III or whomever is behind the center.
Next: Carl Lawson Key to Bounce Back Season for Auburn Defense
Losing Roc Thomas isn’t going to destroy Auburn’s plans for 2016, but it certainly could put a strain on the running back situation if Robinson or Johnson gets hurt. Let’s just hope that doesn’t happen.
War Eagle!