Class of 2020 position-by-position preview: Running backs
Auburn closed out its 2019 class just outside the top-10, and it's looking to rebound in the 2020 cycle. The Tigers are already off to a nice start with seven commitments making up the 9th-ranked class nationally in the Rivals team rankings. Auburn's full attention has turned to 2020, hosting visitors and prepping for the spring evaluation period. Over the next two weeks, we'll take a position-by-position look at Auburn's 2020 recruiting board. Subject to change during the evaluation period, this is a re-doable exercise later in the spring, as well. For the second installment — running backs.
Current depth chart: Kam Martin (senior), Malik Miller (junior), JaTarvious Whitlow (redshirt sophomore), Shaun Shivers (sophomore), Harold Joiner (redshirt freshman), DJ Williams (freshman), Mark-Antony Richards (freshman).
Potential departures: Martin and Miller.
How many commits at the position: None.
How many Auburn plans to take: Two.
Already offered (* = already committed elsewhere): Zachary Evans, North Shore (Texas); Kendall Milton, Buchanan (Calif.); MarShawn Lloyd, Hyattsville (Md.); Bijan Robinson, Salpointe Catholic (Ariz.); Ashaad Clayton, Warren Easton (La.); Sam Adams, Eastside Catholic (Wash.), Demarkus Bowman, Lakeland (Fla.); Cartavious Bigsby, Callaway (Ga.); Daijun Edwards, Colquitt County (Ga.); Roydell Williams, Hueytown (Ala.)*, Jojuan Collins, Narbonne (Calif.); Jordon Ingram, St. Paul's Episcopal (Ala.); Deondre Jackson, Stephenson (Ga.); Kobe Pryor, Cedartown (Ga.); DJ Lundy, Irwin County (Ga.); Desmond Tisdol, Wilcox County (Ga.); Alex Adams, South Pike (Miss.)*, Myles Friday, Cardinal Gibbons (Fla.); Jaylan Knighton, Deerfield Beach (Fla.); Jo'quavious Marks, Carver (Ga.); Mecose Todd, Carrollton (Ga.); Lawrence Toafili, Pinellas Park (Fla.).
Other potential targets: Jordon Simmons, McEachern (Ga.); Kimani Vidal, Marietta (Ga.).
Importance of more blue-chip additions (1-10): 6 — Running back is always a position of need, so it's hard to have it anywhere below average importance. But, if you look at the last three running back cycles — even with Asa Martin's departure — the Tigers have a backfield of Whitlow, Shivers, Joiner, Williams and Richards that provides depth and versatility for the foreseeable future. Still, with Martin graduating and Miller's involvement uncertain, it's always key to load up at running back every class.
What I think Auburn will do: The hire of Cadillac Williams to replace Tim Horton signaled a recruiting shift in the 2020 class. Williams' name alone will unlock doors for Auburn that weren't available before. The key to his work will come during the evaluation period when he can get his face and Auburn logo in front of high school coaches around the country to attract some of the top running backs in the country to campus. In the meantime, Auburn continues its pushes for many of the more regional prospects who have been regular visitors to the Plains for years. Auburn hopes this combined effort of pipeline searching and shooting for the stars nationally creates another one-two punch at running back.
What I think Auburn should do: Much like with the offensive line class that we'll expound upon later in the week, Auburn wants to make sure it gets its running backs, but it doesn't want to scare off any elite talent. Right now, Auburn have been active in the recruitments of guys such as Pryor, Edwards and Todd, to name a few. All of those guys are talented players who should be in the immediate "take" category if they wanted in. The addition of one of those guys shouldn't deter the pursuit of some Rivals 100 targets such as Bigsby, Bowman, Robinson, or anyone else Williams persuades to visit campus this summer. The willingness to take a mid-ranked-yet-highly-coveted running back early could make for another exceptional running back class with a splash addition on the back end — not much unlike the Class of 2019 with Williams and Richards.