Auburn football: Genuine competition for running back reps

AUBURN – Though every position is "open" in the spring, there is a genuine battle for reps in Auburn's backfield.

For the third straight spring the running back position is being billed as an open competition but unlike 2013, when Tre Mason was coming off a 1,000 yard season, or 2014, when Cameron Artis-Payne was considered the more likely in the "1 and 1a" situation with Corey Grant, this year's group of Jovon Robinson, Roc Thomas and Peyton Barber is a more earnest race.

"This year, I'm thinking we could legitimately play three running backs," running backs coach Tim Horton said. "We'll see how it all plays out; we'll see what cream rises to the top."

Horton said the competition will "definitely" continue into the fall.

"No question about it," he said.

Thomas, who had 214 yards and two touchdowns as a true freshman, is all for having a balanced amount of reps in the backfield.

"Whatever works best and whatever helps out the team best," Thomas said. "Cause, I know, once one person ends up getting a lot of carries, that's a lot of mileage on one person. Three people running the ball that's evenly split? I think it could hurt defenses."

While all three backs had good runs during last week's scrimmage, there were some issues and areas to improve upon.

Thomas, whose playmaking ability is probably best in the group, spent too much time going side to side, an issue that persisted last season and was partially to blame for his issues with ball security.

"He's so athletic and so talented, he thinks he can take every one to the house," offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee said. "You've got to be more of a one-cut guy, stick your foot in the ground, get north and south, be willing to take the 4, 5 and 6-yard runs. Knowing that if you do that enough, you're going to be good enough to pop some big ones.

"Every now and then, he tries to make the home run play happen and we end up going sideways. We need him to go downhill a little bit more."

Thomas added 10 pounds this offseason to get up to 203, a weight Horton feels will help the sophomore's durability.

Robinson, the top ranked junior college running back in last year's recruiting class, broke free for a long scoring run last week but still has plenty of work to do in learning the offense. He's already well into the undertaking, spending extra time in the film room.

"He's not as far along as Peyton and Roc knowing the offense, but he shouldn't be," Lashlee said. "Things are starting to slow down."

The 6-foot 230 pound Robinson, who has not been available for interviews, is considered the best pass protector of the three, which makes him the early favorite to be a third-down back in what should be a much more passing oriented offense.

"Jovon has got some deceptive speed," Horton said. "Sometimes to be as big as he is and to run as fast as he does can catch you off guard a little bit. Jovon's a hard guy to tackle, runs with a good pad level and he's got some great skills running the ball."

Barber has only one way to go on A-Day after suffering an ankle injury on his first play in last year's game

"I feel like a lot of people haven't been able to see what I can do," Barber said. "I just want to show people what I can do."

The third-year sophomore had just 10 carries for 54 yards in mop-up duty last season but Horton is confident in the former three-star prospect's abilities.

"I think he just needs a chance, he just needs an opportunity," Horton said. "I have no question that if and when he gets his shot on Saturdays, he'll do really well."

There won't be any decisions made during or after the five remaining spring practices and if a divide in the carries happens, it won't be for some time.

"There are some days that I'll leave the field and I'll say, 'Boy, ol' so-and-so, he jumped to the top today,'" Horton said. "And then the next day, it'll be another one."