Roc Wants In

[The Six]

http://www.al.com/auburnfootball/index.ssf/2014/07/freshman_running_back_roc_thom.html#incart_river

Roc Thomas will get his long-awaited shot, and so will every running back on Auburn's roster when the Tigers open preseason camp late next week.

The search for Tre Mason's replacement is underway, and whether the Tigers can match his school-record production last season (1,816 yards and 23 touchdowns) remains to be seen. Coach Gus Malzahn is aiming for a more balanced offensive approach, meaning carries and opportunities could be fewer, but no less important in 2014.

"Roc, just like all the other freshmen, will get every opportunity right away to show if they're ready or not," offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee said last week. "And how those guys respond usually dictates on the level of load we give them early. We'll just have to see how he responds."

Thomas enters a five-man battle at the position, where seniors Cameron Artis-Payne and Corey Grant already have the upper-hand following spring practice. What helps Thomas, and fellow freshman Kamryn Pettway and redshirt freshman Peyton Barber, is that the door of opportunity is wide open at Auburn.

Thomas and Pettway participated in offseason workouts and worked two hours each week in the film room with coaches thanks to new NCAA rules that went into effect this summer.

"I think that will help those guys a lot and maybe pick things up quicker when we start fall camp," Lashlee said.

It's not always easy for a true freshman to grab a starting job or a big role in an offense, especially one that requires an uptempo pace (and understanding of the offense) in order to work.

Thomas, like Michael Dyer (1,093 yards) in 2010 at Auburn, could be a different story. The five-star prospect out of Oxford rushed for 2,211 yards and 32 touchdowns as a senior and was the Tigers' No. 1 target on their recruiting board. He also made an impact on Malzahn during a visit to one of his games.

"Last year was one of the most impressive performances I've seen since I've been recruiting," Malzahn said. "With that being said, he's going to have an opportunity to help this year.  We've had some success in the past with true freshmen running backs being successful in our offense. We'll see. We'll see how fall camp goes.  But he's off to a good start right now."

Six freshmen have entered the SEC and rushed for 1,000 yards or more since 2005, including five players in the last four seasons. Simply put, the opportunity is there for Thomas to compete and Malzahn is willing to wait before settling on a starter. It wasn't until the fourth game of the season Mason was awarded the starting job in 2013.

Malzahn confirmed Monday during a trip to ESPN's studios the Tigers will use a "by-committee" approach at running back early in the season.

Will experience win out? After all, Artis-Payne and Mason shared carries in the first three games of the 2013 season -- Mason had 39 and Artis-Payne had 35 totes -- before Mason won the job.

The answer is not so clear, especially when a blue-chip prospect like Thomas enters the fold.

"Obviously, and you've seen it, too, his video is really impressive," running backs coach Tim Horton said in April. "He's really a good, good player. The thing that you don't know as a coach is how quick can he learn it? As a coach, I always say that's my job."

[Saniflush]

when the Tigers open preseason camp late next week

Thank you 7.5 lb baby Jesus

[Godfather]

This makes me wet...how many days Snaggle?

[GH2001]

This makes me wet...how many days Snaggle?

He's only interested in days until Dax poses for Playgirl. It tickles his taint to think about it.

[Snaggletiger]

He's only interested in days until Dax poses for Playgirl. It tickles his taint to think about it.

Dax is yesterday's news.  He ripped my heart out and can't be forgiven for that.  I have eyes for Ike Powell now.  He'll be a household name before his career is over.