Auburn Tigers: Who Will Fill the Shoes at Running Back?

While some teams first offensive concern is quarterback, at Auburn it is running back.

Ben Tate has graduated to the next level and his shoes must be filled before next season. There is no replacement that played in 2009; every player on the offense had a role.

There is redshirt freshman Dontae Aycock. He spent 2009 as running back for the Auburn scout team. He is an impressive and physically matured SEC ready running back and will pick up some of the load in 2010.

If Aycock is able to put in 15 good, strong touches per game in 2010, and if three are likely pass plays, then Auburn will have covered 12 rushing plays per game. If his production is average for an Auburn back, this will give him around 800 yards rushing for the season—a tall order for any freshman.

With the up-tempo offense next season, this leaves Auburn with another 20 rushing plays per game to cover. What running back will step up and cover these touches?

D.J. Howard is an SEC ready back, committed to Auburn from Lincoln (AL). He will be coming in as a true freshman. He has the physical build to be durable, but he is still a freshman and he will need a few years of conditioning to maximize his potential.

However, he will have to play his freshman year. He will need to produce eight to 10 quality touches per game for Auburn's offense to produce as planned. Of these touches, two will likely be pass plays.

Michael Dyer is also an SEC ready back, committed to Auburn from Arkansas. He will also be coming in as a true freshman. Like Howard, he has the physical build and maturity to be durable as well, but will need a year or two of conditioning to reach his potential.

He too will have to play his freshman year. He will be asked to produce 10 to 12 quality touches per game, two or three of which will likely be pass plays.

Then there is Marcus Lattimore. If this young man commits, he will also be asked to play as a true freshman, and will also be asked to produce 8 to 10 quality touches as a freshman.

If one of these running backs does not sign with Auburn or is injured, then Mario Fannin and Onterio McCalebb will be asked to contribute extra touches aside from their normal plays. This will reduce the quality of their normal touches as well as the extra touches they are asked to cover.

Kick returning is another duty for the running backs. Travon Reed will likely be asked to pull some of this duty. He might not be able to do as much as some think, since his position is going to be wide receiver.

Chris Davis is an electric returner and will be utilized as such, but he is also a corner and will not be able to perform both tasks all the time.

D.J. Howard is also a prolific returner and will be asked to perform extra duty in this capacity.

If Auburn gets every one of these commitments to sign and they all stay healthy, then Gus Malzhan will finally have the capacity to run the offense as he envisions it.

Mario Fannin will graduate after the 2010 season. By then, these freshmen will have a year of conditioning to get them ready to pick up his duties.

If anyone thought Auburn would have too many running backs for 2010 then they were badly mistaken. There will be enough running backs for Gus Malzhan to work with and no more.

Ideally, Auburn will run 85 or more plays per game in 2010. Ideally, 50 of these plays will be rushing plays. Thirty to 35 of these plays will be normal rushing plays that the freshman running backs will asked to perform. 

We all hope kickoff returns are kept to a minimum and to have an abundance of punt returns. I expect the freshmen returners to get the majority of these touches. Ten or 12 per game would be conservative. 

Auburn will be asking freshmen running backs to contribute in a big way in 2010. Their performance could mean the difference in a good season and a great season.