Auburn seeks committee to shoulder rushing responsibilities

Auburn is banking on a committee style setup in the backfield this season, with the Tigers seeking valuable contributions from all four of its rushers to replace dynamic duo Tre Mason and Cameron Artis-Payne.

Roc Thomas and Peyton Barber remain the leaders in the running back contest entering the final week of the preseason, but Auburn still hopes to get Jovon Robinson and even true freshman Kerryon Johnson into the mix.

"We're going to need all four of them," said offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee, according to James Crepea of AL.com "We're going to plan on playing them all and kind of see how that works itself out."

The team, though, remains committed to naming a starter prior to its first SEC conference tilt against LSU in week three, which would allow its four talented backs the opportunity to prove themselves in the first two games of the season.

Thomas enters the campaign slightly favored to win the starting role, after adding an additional 10 pounds to his frame in the offseason, that Lashlee believes that it could make him an even more durable performer.

"Some guys that run hard and violent and with a lot of cutting like him, sometimes you're more concerned about them with durability," Lashlee said. "I think that's the No. 1 thing we're most excited about. We hope (added weight) will help keep him healthy. And two, it has probably given him confidence to be tougher."