Auburn Football 2017: 3 Takeaways from upset loss to LSU

2. Auburn running back depth is incredible

Auburn has not one, but two running backs capable of exceeding 100 yards on any given Saturday. There are several dozen college football teams that would love the luxury of one complete back, let alone two.

Kamryn Pettway, Auburn’s lead back a year ago, has played sparingly in three contests before the game against LSU. Injuries have kept the Tiger star largely unproductive, save for a 34 carry, 128 yard and three touchdown game against Mercer earlier this season.

Last season Pettway rushed for 1,224 and seven touchdowns. He’s been sidelined with injuries for most of the season. Reports before the game said he was “close to 100 percent”. While he did play on Saturday, it was another uneventful outing for the junior running back. He carried the ball four times for seven yards.

Usually losing the services of your 1,000+ yard rusher is a major set back. Not for Auburn. Pettway’s “backup” Kerryon Johnson continued a productive season in Pettway’s stead with a huge day on Saturday against LSU. Johnson picked up 156 yards on 31 carries with one touchdown. No matter who is in the backfield, Auburn has proved they can run the football.