Why expectations are high for Auburn running backs

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AUBURN, Alabama — A decade-long streak was snapped, and suddenly Auburn’s identity was in question.

Auburn’s record-breaking streak of 1,000-yard rushers came to an end in 2018 with a quarterback-turned-running back as the starter and a junior without experience as an every-down runner as the primary ball carrier. The offensive line struggled until at least the seventh week of the season, offensive line coach J.B. Grimes admitted, and JaTarvious “Boobee” Whitlow was still adjusting to life as a running back in his redshirt freshman season.

For Whitlow, patience was the issue. For the offensive line, experience and cohesion were the two biggest issues.

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Whitlow realized he needed to be more patient as a runner. He didn’t wait for blocks to develop before running up field, which turned potential long gains into short yardage.

“It was hard, man,” Whitlow said. “I ain’t going to lie. It was hard. But just watching film and then seeing it? When I’m on the field, I’m so used to just going, know what I’m saying? Like, forget the line, I got to go, know what I’m saying? I was so used to doing that. That’s why I was kind of rushing, but later on in the season, man s***, I kind of started slowing down, talking to the linemen. They tell me to just be patient; ‘we got you.’ OK, you tell me you got me, then I’m gonna trust you. I’m going to trust you until you give me a reason not to trust you. It was hard, but then it wasn’t hard because they’re brothers and we got that relationship. I’ll get the hang of it, though.”

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“Boobee Whitlow has a chance to be a really good ‘back, I really do,” Grimes said. “And I really like this D.J. Williams. He’s a young kid, a true freshman, a high school kid, that I thought didn’t come out there and played like a high school kid. He’s got a chance to be a really good player. We didn’t have Shaun Shivers out there and he gives you an element of speed that’s really, really outstanding. And we’re excited about Harold Joiner. I’m not sure where we’re going to play Harold Joiner. He’s kind of the catchall guy, but they get tired of hitting that guy. So we think we’ve got more depth at running back and we’ve still got the freshman coming in Mark Anthony Richards, who I think can be a good player. So we’ve got some things to play with there.”

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Meanwhile, the players are adjusting to a new position coach. Auburn legend Cadillac Williams replaced Tim Horton as the running backs coach before spring practices.

“It’s a whole different kind of coaching, so now it’s kind of just more of us being behind the ball,” Whitlow said. “We ain’t up to the standard yet, but we’re working up to the standard. It’s going to take time. We ain’t going to get it right then as soon as he comes in, but I know just little baby steps. You got to crawl before you walk.”

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Whitlow figures to be the leader of that change.

“He’s more mature. He’s more natural,” Auburn coach Gus Malzahn said. “In his defense, when he first got here his freshman year, we had him playing wide receiver. Then we moved him to tailback, we had a scrimmage and he had an ankle injury. So really last year was his first time to run the football, and we thought he did some good things. But I think it’s more of just a confidence, a comfort. He’s playing a lot faster than he did last year.”

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