Reassessing The Auburn Running Back Position

I’ll admit, I had a lot of high hopes for the offense this season because of Jovon Robinson being the featured Auburn running back. Even had Peyton Barber and Roc Thomas stuck around, I thought Robinson was going to be a beast in 2016.

Here we are a week into fall camp, and we’re having to reassess the Auburn running back position, which no longer includes Jovon Robinson.

With the loss of Robinson, someone is going to have to step up at running back this season in his place. The first person up to do so will be sophomore Kerryon Johnson.

The 6-foot, 211 pound running back has said several times that he’s ready to take on the workload that comes with being the starting running back for Auburn, and I think he has the ability to do it, but I’d rather him not get 20-plus carries a game.

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It’s not that I don’t think he’s a talented back, I just feel he’s more valuable as a flex-type back who can catch balls out of the backfield, or carry it on a reverse. I certainly think he has the ability to run between the tackles, but I see him being more effective on the outside in the open field.

Someone who I think will have no problem running between the tackles is 6-foot, 240 pound sophomore Kamryn Pettway. He was supposed to be an H-back type for Auburn this year, but with all the departures at running back he’s now getting a look as the feature back.

He’s definitely not a guy you want to meet at the line of scrimmage, but I worry about his speed getting to holes. I think he will be great in short yardage situations, and may be able to plow his way to four yards a carry.

I believe Auburn starts the season with Johnson at running back, but brings in Pettway for short yard situations.

However, as the season goes on I would not be surprised if freshman running back Malik Miller gets a shot at the starting job. He’s gotten very good reviews early in camp, and Gus Malzahn hinted at the fact that Miller could get some playing time this season.

True freshman Malik Miller could provide much-needed depth in Auburn’s backfield

With the lack of depth at running back, I don’t see how Miller doesn’t get any playing time this season. In fact, I think he’s probably the best bet to be the starting running back for this offense. He’s both quick and physical, and is the closest style of running back to Jovon Robinson on the roster.

Miller enrolled early so he was able to get ahead of the game by participating in spring practice, but injuries have held him back both in his senior year of high school and in the spring game.

Keep an eye on Miller in the first three games. If he starts to get comfortable back there running the ball, I think he could eventually become the starting running back for Auburn, putting Johnson and Pettway back in the roles they belong in.

Auburn also has freshman Kam Martin and Stephen Davis Jr. working at running back, but both were late signees and news just broke that Davis will be out all year with an injury.

Losing Jovon Robinson is a huge loss, if you don’t see that then you’re in denial, but that doesn’t mean all hope is gone at the running back position for Auburn in 2016.

Malzahn dismissed Robinson because he knows how important this season is for him and doesn’t want any distractions like Duke Williams in 2015, so I have to believe that also means he has a ton of confidence in the running backs that are on the roster.

Next: College Football Countdown: 2016 Auburn Football Depth Chart

No matter who gets the starting job at running back, I can’t wait to see what these young and talented backs can do on the football field this fall.

War Eagle!

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