Nov 19, 2016; Auburn, AL, USA; Auburn Tigers quarterback Jeremy Johnson (6) looks for a receiver during the first quarter against the Alabama A&M Bulldogs at Jordan Hare Stadium. Photo Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports
Auburn is optimistic that several players who missed last week’s rout of Alabama A&M will be back for Saturday’s Iron Bowl against Alabama, including running back Kamryn Pettway.
Pettway, the team’s leading rusher despite playing in just eight of the 11 games, is coming off a leg injury sustained on his final carry of the win over Vanderbilt. He hasn’t played the last two games.
Running back Kerryon Johnson is probably closer to full health after injuring his ankle in the win over Mississippi State in early October. He carried 18 times for 108 yards last week.
If Pettway isn’t near or at 100 percent, freshman Kam Martin could be used to spell Johnson against the Crimson Tide.
But one issue still was very much undecided as the Tigers (8-3, 5-2 SEC) get ready to take on the unbeaten Tide (11-0, 7-0 SEC), and that is who will start at quarterback.
Sophomore Sean White sat out the win over Alabama A&M with a sore shoulder and senior Jeremy Johnson stepped in to start. Johnson was very effective in getting on the field for just the third time this season, completing 14 of 19 passes for 147 yards in the 55-0 rout.
But that was against an overmatched FCS foe. Need it even be said that Alabama’s defense presents a much bigger challenge?
White, who is 129-of-198 passing for 1,644 yards and nine touchdowns, has been on-and-off the field in recent games. He didn’t start against Vanderbilt but came in to rally the Tigers from a three-point halftime deficit to a 23-16 victory.
The next week he started against Georgia but re-injured his shoulder and was largely ineffective as the Tigers lost 13-7. He didn’t play at all last week as Johnson and John Franklin III took over.
Offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee says he isn’t sure if White will be ready. He said Johnson could start again with Franklin as an alternative.
“I thought Jeremy and John both did a good job,” Lashless said of their performance last week. “They’ve been repping for us the last couple of weeks of practice when Sean hasn’t been practicing. We’ll see where Sean is in the process.
“We’ll try to make a call, at least on our end, earlier in the week so we can prepare the way we need to, but I wouldn’t rule any of them out right now.”
NOTES, QUOTES
PLAYERS TO WATCH
–RB Kam Martin saw his most extensive playing time of the season and rushed for 176 yards on 21 carries in the win over Alabama A&M. A freshman, he likely won’t be called on that much if Kamryn Pettway is able to return against Alabama, but he could be a valuable contributor if Pettway or starter Kerryon Johnson aren’t 100 percent.
–WR Tony Stevens has caught five passes the last two games after missing the wins over Ole Miss and Vanderbilt with an undisclosed injury. He could be a key figure in Auburn’s offense if Bama stacks the line against Auburn’s running game.
–NB Johnathan Ford not only is Auburn’s No. 2 tackler with 57 stops, he also showed his ability on offense against Alabama A&M. A senior who goes by the nickname “Rudy,” he rushed two times for six yards and also caught a pass for a 25-yard gain.
