Position check: RB

AUBURN | If Auburn can remain healthy it could be one of the SEC’s top units. A look at the running back position before the start of spring practice on Feb. 28.

WHO’S GONE: Stanton Truitt left for North Carolina as a graduate transfer with two years of eligibility left. He rushed for 187 yards and two touchdowns on 31 carries last season.

WHO’S BACK: The SEC’s leading rusher, Kamryn Pettway, returns for his junior season. He had 209 carries for 1,224 yards and seven touchdowns last year. Also back is junior Kerryon Johnson, who rushed for 895 yards and 11 touchdowns on 182 carries.

Sophomore Kam Martin returns along with Malik Miller, who rushed for 69 yards in three games, but is expected to be a redshirt freshman this fall after suffering a season-ending knee injury in October.

WHO’S NEW: There aren’t any new scholarship running backs on the roster this spring.

WHO’S COMING: Auburn signed two running backs in the 2017 class that are scheduled to report May 28: Devan Barrett and Alaric Williams.

OUTLOOK: Auburn returns one of the nation’s best 1-2 punches at running back in Pettway and Johnson. As long as they stay healthy the two should carry the load for the Tigers this season. One of the keys for Pettway and Johnson is how well they adapt to the offense installed by new coordinator Chip Lindsey. My hunch is they will thrive in a system that’s previously featured the running backs a lot more in the passing game.

If Pettway and/or Johnson are injured again, the Tigers should be better positioned to succeed without them this season, especially when Barrett and Williams are added to the roster this summer. In their second year at Auburn, Miller and Martin should be more capable of stepping in and providing key snaps or even starting.

There’s no guarantee either Pettway or Johnson return next season so getting the backups as much experience as possible to prepare them for 2018 would be a plus.