Power of positivity: Best-case scenarios for huge Auburn season in 2018
By Rob Maxwell
What about the running backs?
For nine consecutive seasons, Auburn football has boasted a 1,000-yard runner.
If you take the easy route and just look at statistics from last season, that streak would appear to be in serious jeopardy. Kam Martin is the top runner back from last season and he ran for just 453 yards in 2017. But he averaged 6.1 yards per carry and showed ability to be more than a change-of-pace back by attacking between the tackles on occasion.
He’s expected to be the starter on Sept. 1. He could be Auburn’s next 1,000-yard runner.
Or, that could be redshirt freshman JaTarvious “Boobee” Whitlow.
Or freshman Asa Martin.
Count on Lindsey and Malzahn to find the best back for the job, even if it takes two, three or more games to establish a pecking order and go-to player.
Best-case scenario: The Auburn running game won’t be as prolific as it was in 2013 when the Tigers reached the BCS Championship Game behind Heisman finalist Tre Mason and his 1,816 rushing yards. Corey Grant ran for 647 yards that season (9.8 per carry) and Cameron Artis-Payne added 610. We could see the same sort of breakdown this season. One of the above three backs tops 1,000 and the other two run (or another back like Shaun Shivers, Malik Miller, Devan Barrett or Harold Joiner) for 500.