SPORTS

Auburn depth chart analysis: H-back

James Crepea
Montgomery Advertiser
Kamryn Pettway is competing for the starting H-back job.

AUBURN – After back-to-back years of seniors handling the grunt work at H-back the Tigers will have to turn to either a redshirt or true freshman to help plow the road out of the backfield.

Kamryn Pettway, the Prattville native who redshirted last year, and early enrollee Chandler Cox are vying for the starting job and whether or not they win it, both could see the field in the fall.

Though it wasn't a position of great strength for Auburn last season as it was with Jay Prosch in 2013, Brandon Fulse did develop into a better blocker later on.

With no college game experience at the position, Pettway and Cox gave the coaching staff enough confidence this spring to play either of them in the fall.

"It's definitely a huge relief and comfort to know we've got two guys we think fit that position very well from a talent standpoint, from an athleticism, from a toughness, they fit what we're looking for," offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee said. "From the standpoint that when we started they were at the baseline, they were nowhere, and 15 practices (through spring) we feel like both those guys are going to help us win football games this year."

Gus Malzahn's take

"Both those guys will be in the mix; we have not made a decision on who's starting but we feel good that we'll have two guys for a long time running our offense at the H-back position that we feel like are very versatile, that can do the things we need them to do for that position,"

The Two-Deep

Kamryn Pettway (6-foot, 242 pounds, redshirt-freshman)
Chandler Cox (6-foot-2, 232 pounds, freshman)

Starter

Pettway arrived on the Plains coming off a senior season with 1,402 yards and 17 scores at Prattville, but redshirted due to the senior-laden backfield.

After taking his lumps on the scout team, Pettway asked running backs coach Tim Horton to make a position change, which came during bowl practice

"He actually comes to me and says, 'coach, I'm not as good as these others (at running back), but I can start at fullback,'" Horton said. "Once he said that he went to that position and has thrived. I think he's really going to be good because he's physical, he's got tailback run skills, we can throw the ball to him and that's a dimension of the offense that we were not as good at Year 2 as we were Year 1."

The running back skillset is something both Pettway and the coaching staff see as a big benefit for him.

"The thing he brings to that position is toughness, which you like," tight ends coach Scott Fountain said. "Pettway also has the athleticism of a running back, which is neat to have at that position."

Pettway had a pair of seven-yard catches during the A-Day game, appearing with both the first and second-team offenses, but he did not have any carries.

"I'm alright with not getting a lot of carries," Pettway said. "It's just whatever helps the team out."

Auburn running back Chandler Cox (27) catches a pass over Auburn defensive back Markell Boston (11) during the Auburn A-Day spring game on Saturday, April 18, 2015, at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala.

Backup

Cox is an early enrollee who shined during spring practice thanks in large part to the heavy amount of reps he was able to take.

Even with Pettway ahead thus far, Cox is by no means out of the competition and will likely still see the field this season regardless of who starts.

"A lot of freshmen come in and it's going to take time, but he's really a kid that is a fast learner," Fountain said. "He'll play for us, there is no doubt in my mind that him and Pettway both will."

Cox, who played many positions Apopka (Florida) High School, made a nifty 25-yard catch on A-Day that showcased his array of talents.

"That's some versatility that obviously we are going to really enjoy having," Lashlee said.

Next Wave

Chris Laye (6-foot-5, 250 pounds, redshirt-freshman) spent the spring focusing on blocking as a hands-down tight end but is expected to spend some time practicing at H-back in the fall.

Summer Arrivals

Jalen Harris (6-foot-5, 245 pounds) is expected to be exclusively at tight end.

Quotable

"The thing I like about (Cox) and Pettway both is that they both have that Jay Prosch mentality as a blocker, but they are both pretty good athletes that are used to having the ball in their hands. They had their hands on the ball quite a lot in high school and that's kind of a dimension we haven't had at that position." – Scott Fountain