Pettway, Neal missing in action

AUBURN | For much of preseason practice Gus Malzahn talked up Kamryn Pettway.

The converted H-back was going to bring a big, physical presence to the running back position. He was listed as the No. 2 tailback on the depth chart behind Kerryon Johnson.

But Pettway spent most of Saturday night’s game against No. 2 Clemson on the bench. Stanton Truitt actually started, carrying the ball four times for seven yards. Johnson was the team’s leading rusher with 94 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries.

Even H-back Chandler Cox got four carries while Pettway sat and watched.

When asked about Pettway in his postgame press conference, Malzahn said the sophomore wasn’t injured or suspended.

“We just went with K.J. and that’s what we decided to do,” Malzahn said.

Pettway wasn’t the only surprising omission from the game plan Saturday. Graduate transfer T.J. Neal was listed on Auburn’s participation chart but was not a part of the regular linebacker rotation that mainly featured Deshaun Davis, Tre’ Williams and Darrell Williams for most of the night.

Neal, who transferred from Illinois this summer, tweeted his frustration after the game saying his mother and two sisters drove 12 hours to watch him play two series on special teams.

Neal deleted the tweets shortly after posting them.

When asked, Malzahn didn’t shine much light on why Neal wasn’t a part of the linebacker rotation.

“We just went with the guys they felt were ready,” he said.

Auburn opened the season with a 19-13 loss to Clemson. AU will host Arkansas State next Saturday at 6:30 p.m. CT on the SEC Network.