Auburn football: 10 players most important to accelerating offense in 2018

Ryan Davis and the Auburn football team had little trouble vs. the Bulldogs last season. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images)
Ryan Davis and the Auburn football team had little trouble vs. the Bulldogs last season. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images) /
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Auburn football-Kam Martin
Kam Martin brings home run potential to the Auburn backfield. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images) /

9. RB Kam Martin

For two seasons, it feels like Gus Malzahn has teased Auburn fans with what Kam Martin could be in this offense.

As a freshman in 2016, Martin ran for 176 yards on 21 carries with TD runs of 18 and 17 yards. In the season opener against Georgia Southern last season, he ran 14 times for 136 yards with a 36-yard touchdown run. But the following week in the offensive debacle against Clemson, Martin didn’t touch the ball.

So what should we expect in 2018?

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When fall practice begins, Martin will be Auburn’s most experienced running back. He’ll get first crack at replacing Kerryon Johnson (and Kam Pettway, to an extent). Martin deserves the opportunity for patiently waiting and stepping up to the task more often than not when called upon in his first two seasons.

But Auburn is talented — albeit very young — at running back and you can bet he’s been pushed since the day spring practice ended (it ended with him as the No. 1 RB).

Whether or not Martin wins the starting job, he will have tremendous value for the Tigers.