4-Star ATH Kerryon Johnson Should Choose Safety over Running Back at Auburn

Kerryon Johnson is an iron man in every sense of the word.

The 6'0", 200-pound athlete from Madison Academy in Madison, Alabama, outside of Huntsville won "Mr. Football" in the state after leading his team to a state title as both a running back and as a safety.

In 2014, he rushed for 1,659 yards and 25 touchdowns, had 22 catches for 598 yards and eight touchdowns, had 71 tackles, five forced fumbles and six interceptions—three of which were returned for touchdowns—according to Paul Beaudry of AL.com.

If you asked him to, he'd probably be able to hit 15-of-18 from three-point range, hit for the cycle and shoot a 68 at Pebble Beach.

He's just that talented.

Johnson, a 4-star prospect according to 247Sports, now has a decision to make once he arrives at Auburn—where he's been committed since last April. Offense or defense?

He wants to play running back, but when he got to Orlando late in December to play in the Under Armour All-American Game, he was listed as a safety. Despite success against the best high schools have to offer, his heart is still at running back.

"I know I'm still a running back," he told John Talty of AL.com earlier this month. "There are things I do there that are just natural for me to do. I know that'd be the happier route for me, personally, because that's what I love to do and want to do."

He'll undoubtedly get a look at running back once he arrives on The Plains, but defense is where he can make his mark earlier on and have more longevity.

Photo Credit: 247Sports

Immediate Impact

Johnson is a talented running back and will certainly succeed in head coach Gus Malzahn's offense, but maybe not right away. 

Junior college transfer Jovon Robinson and rising sophomore "Roc" Thomas are the two favorites to become the feature back in 2015.

Robinson rushed for 2,387 yards and 34 touchdowns in 2013 for Georgia Military College, and at 5'11", 227 pounds, has the body size and burst to be an every-down back in the SEC. Thomas saw spot duty as a freshman, gaining 214 yards and scoring twice. They'll also be supplemented by wide receiver Ricardo Louis, who became a force on the edge on jet sweeps midway through the 2014 season.

"It is clear why folks want [Johnson] on offense. The dude is a weapon," said B/R National College Football Video Analyst Michael Felder. "He has good speed, nice stutter, can create big plays and go between running back and wide receiver. However, on defense, Johnson can truly be a big impact player. Not just another 8-12 touch per game weapon, but an every-play safety who can patrol the back end."

Photo Credit: 247Sports

On defense, everybody has a clean slate.

New defensive coordinator Will Muschamp was brought in to fix an Auburn defense that hasn't finished in the top half of the SEC in total defense since 2007—which, perhaps not coincidentally, was Muschamp's final season during his first go-round as Auburn's defensive coordinator.

A big problem last season was the secondary, particularly its susceptibility to giving up big plays. Auburn gave up 68 plays of 20 or more yards last season—the worst mark in the SEC. It does return all four players on its two-deep at safety, including starters Johnathan Ford and Joshua Holsey, but with a new scheme and a new coordinator, starting roles are hardly guaranteed.

Johnson is more likely to find his way to the field in 2015 as a safety, and he has the skills to do it.

Longevity

It's no secret that running backs are expendable.

There hasn't been a running back drafted in the first round in either of the last two NFL drafts. Bishop Sankey—the first one taken last year—was selected 54th overall, and the most likely candidate to end that streak this year, Georgia running back Todd Gurley, is coming off of ACL surgery.

The average career of running backs is shorter than any other position in the NFL, according to Chase Goodbread of NFL.com. Johnson should heed the advice of former LSU defensive back and high school running back Patrick Peterson, now of the Arizona Cardinals.

"The life span of an NFL running back is very short," Peterson told USA Today's Kent Somers in 2013. "It was clear from Day 1, I was playing defense."

Photo Credit: 247Sports

Sure, playing running back may be preferable for Johnson now. But isn't playing football preferable, long-term?

Recruits often call signing with programs "business decisions." For Johnson, the program isn't the only order of business. His position choice will have much more of an impact on his bottom line as a professional, and he should start preparing for that career as soon as he steps foot on The Plains.

After all, isn't that what college is for?

Coaching and Natural Ability

Muschamp has helped several defensive backs make their way to the NFL, including Earl Thomas at Texas and Matt Elam at Florida.

It's lofty to place Johnson in the same discussion with those players, but he has the foundation to build off of and the opportunity to get to that point under Muschamp's guidance.

"I think he has the speed to be a true free safety type, but as he grows into that frame, he can be versatile enough to play deep and down in the box," said Felder. "That's the type of help Auburn needs on defense. He's the kind of back-end player that can help give Muschamp and his front seven the cover they need to go hunt quarterbacks."

A freak athlete who has great closing speed, incredible change of direction and the hands of a receiver, Johnson as everything needed to become a superstar safety. 

Deciding between safety and running back at Auburn, though, is truly a "rich man's problem." No matter where he ends up, Johnson is going to be a star.

Barrett Sallee is the lead SEC college football writer and video analyst for Bleacher Report as well as a co-host of the CFB Hangover on Bleacher Report Radio (Sundays, 9-11 a.m. ET) on Sirius 93, XM 208.

Quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. All stats are courtesy of cfbstats.com, and all recruiting information is courtesy of 247Sports' composite rankings. Follow Barrett on Twitter @BarrettSallee.