SPORTS

Auburn depth chart analysis: Running back

James Crepea
Montgomery Advertiser
Roc Thomas, left, Jovon Robinson, middle and Peyton Barber are vying for the starting running back job.

AUBURN – There is no clear leader of the pack in who will start next to Jeremy Johnson in the Auburn backfield and the coaching staff is just fine with that.

Jovon Robinson, Roc Thomas and Peyton Barber are all vying for the starting job, with each having their moments in the spring.

Those who feel Robinson, the top junior college running back the last two years, will waltz right into the starting role are sorely mistaken at this point.

"That is not the case," running backs coach Tim Horton said.

Horton is unsure who will ultimately win the job but he's comfortable with each of his options.

Robinson is the most downhill runner of the tree, Thomas is the most agile and explosive and Barber has spent the most time in the offense.

The only decision that will be made before Sept. 5 is who will take the field first in the Georgia Dome, but even then the race will likely continue for multiple games.

Gus Malzahn's take

"Roc, and all three of our running backs, were very good with the ball in their hands. All three made some good runs (on A-Day). Roc made a couple of spin moves and came out of some things, and that was really nice. I think they've improved throughout the spring."

The Two-Deep

Jovon Robinson (6-foot, 230 pounds, junior)
OR Roc Thomas (5-foot-10, 203 pounds, sophomore)
OR Peyton Barber (5-foot-11, 225 pounds, sophomore)

Starter

Auburn running back Jovon Robinson runs the ball during the Auburn A-Day spring game on Saturday, April 18, 2015, at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala.

After enrolling at Auburn in 2012 before being ruled ineligible due to a grade-changing scandal at his high school, Robinson was eager to finally take the field at Jordan-Hare Stadium this spring.

Though he had just six carries for 19 yards on A-Day, well short of his goal of breaking 100, Robinson did pick up a pair of third-down conversions in the scrimmage and established himself as the best pass protector of the group in the spring,

"He didn't have a really showy spring game but those two third-and-shorts were big because that can keep you from winning games and staying on the field," offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee said. "The second scrimmage, Jovon had a really good scrimmage."

Robinson is the early favorite as the third-down back, a role in which Auburn had incredible success with Tre Mason and Cameron Artis-Payne the last two years.

"His style is a little bit different," Horton said of Robinson compared to Thomas. "He's kind of a little bit of a scooter."

Auburn running back Roc Thomas runs for a touchdown during the Auburn A-Day game.

Thomas had seven carries for 69 yards and two touchdowns on A-Day, showcasing his elusiveness on a 36-yard scoring run.

The former Alabama Mr. Football, who had 43 carries for 214 yards and two scores as a true freshman, worked on being more decisive and running forward this spring while still making the moves that make him a dynamic playmaker.

"The great ones, that have his ability, can do that," Lashlee said. "They can continue to move forward as they're making all their moves."

Not to be counted out, Barber had nine carries for 47 yards on A-Day. Though eight of those came with the second-team offense, it was also against the first-team defense, something not lost on Lashlee, who said Barber had a "really good" performance while barreling over starting linebackers.

Auburn running back Peyton Barber runs downfield during the Auburn A-Day spring game on Saturday, April 18, 2015, at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala.

A third-year sophomore, Barber has spent far more time in the offense than either Robinson or Thomas, though he had just 10 career carries for 54 yards last season. Barber's "consistency" is what Horton sees as his top attribute.

"I think probably in terms of comfort in the offense, he may have the most comfort in the offense," Horton said. "Jovon probably has the least amount of comfort just because he hasn't had the reps. Peyton Barber, he knows exactly what's happening on every play and that wasn't necessarily the case for the first couple of years."

Backup

Whoever loses the job will be more than a distant backup, especially in the first five weeks of the season.

Until Robinson proves himself or Thomas, who added 10 pounds this winter, proves he can take the hits week to week, or Barber proves he's developed, any of them could have the biggest or smallest role on any given week.

Next Wave

While Auburn does not have any other scholarship running backs on the roster, wide receivers Ricardo Louis and Jason Smith are expected to run some plays out of the backfield either on end-arounds or out of the Wildcat formation.

Summer Arrivals

Kerryon Johnson (6-foot-1, 205 pounds) ran for 1,659 yards and 25 touchdowns, including a record six in the Class 3A title game, for Madison Academy last season. The Under Armour All-American is expected to contribute this fall, even if only on special teams.

He is the third straight Alabama Mr. Football to sign with Auburn.

Quotable

"One of the things I think as a coach, and coach Malzahn has a good feel for this, is when you're in that situation, you go with the guy that is hot. You go with the guy that is making things happen. We'll see how it all plays out but we do have confidence in all of them." – Tim Horton