Kam Pettway's 2016 season may go down as the single most surprising campaign ever for a returning Auburn player.
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It's mesmerizing when you think about it.
He led the Southeastern Conference in rushing (from a yards-per-game perspective) one season after being a part-time blocking back who didn't record a single carry. And if not for Jovon Robinson's surprise dismissal immediately prior to fall camp, Pettway may have remained a weapon so secret that even the Auburn coaching staff wouldn't have been aware of its potency.
The only guy not surprised by the whole situation was Pettway. He served as a dominating tailback at Prattville (Ala.) High and as a youngster around the fields of Montgomery. He always considered himself a ball-carrier despite a physique that seemed a little too burly for the position. Auburn offered him an opportunity to play tailback — even if Auburn suspected he'd settle as an H-back — and that was good enough for Pettway. He headed for Auburn, an unusual destination for Prattville players, with plans of becoming the team's featured back.
Pettway didn't earn a carry during the season-opening game against Clemson last year, but gained 152 on 15 carries a week later as a reserve against Arkansas State. Ability and opportunity finally convened during the Tigers' win at Mississippi State; Kerryon Johnson went down with an ankle injury and Pettway finished with 169 yards.
That touched off a string of four games with at least 150 yards for the sophomore. Auburn enjoyed a midseason renaissance thanks largely to Pettway's ability to overwhelm box defenders with brute strength and determination. He pulled up lame in the Vanderbilt game, though, and the Tigers' season soured after that.
In all, Pettway played in 10 games and started six. Few players could have turned part-time work into a breakout season, but he managed it. Now he's a household name — at least in Auburn circles.
Pettway is at his best on straightforward gap-type plays. Power runs, which feature a pulling guard and H-back support, give him an opportunity to riff off those forward blocks. He also makes the most out of counters and sweeps. Pettway isn't as good when it comes to running zone-type plays, which require the tailback to improvise a bit more in terms of where to aim his run. That works well for Auburn insofar as Johnson is a better zone runner, a more patient runner.
Still, Pettway is difficult to tackle and surprisingly fast in the open field. He's not a true home-run threat, sure, but guys his size rarely can get away from second-level defenders. Pettway can. He's one of the very best tailbacks in college ball; good health could allow Pettway to push his name into Heisman Trophy consideration.
His rise is a parable: Each of us is in charge of what we become.
ON THE UP SIDE: Strength, acceleration through the hole, balance, mentality
ON THE DOWN SIDE: Hands, vision
VOTING RESULTS: Jeffrey Lee (2nd), The Bunker (2nd), Bryan Matthews (3rd), Jay G. Tate (3rd)
2016 RANKING: Not Ranked
POSTSCRIPT: Pettway is such an unlikely hero. Though he kept the faith that a chance to carry the ball would come his way eventually — an admirable quality in this era of instant gratification — Pettway never comes across as a particularly confident guy. He's quiet. He talks almost no smack. He's not comfortable in the spotlight. In fact, I'd label him a "follower" in a real world context. Something changes with him on the field. It's easy to look inward to understand that dichotomy, but I think the impetus is rooted in his daily surroundings: Pettway and his wife are raising a child together right now. The carefree days are over. Pettway is focused on creating a great life for his family and that's all the motivation he needs.
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