Before the Auburn Tigers even started fall camp, amid already diminished expectations, they lost their most productive player.
Tigers coach Gus Malzahn dismissed tailback Jovon Robinson hours before the first practice, leaving a team already seeking a quarterback with another significant void in the backfield.
How well those two jobs get filled will go a long way toward deciding whether Auburn and Malzahn’s fast-paced offense rebound strongly or continue going in the wrong direction.
Malzahn said the leadership is as strong as any team he’s had. “They’ve got a chip on their shoulder and they’ve got something to prove,” he said.
That starts with the offense, which ranked 110th in passing offense and 94th in total yards thanks largely to the struggles of quarterbacks Jeremy Johnson and Sean White. The result was just a pair of Southeastern Conference wins two seasons after winning a league title and making the national championship game.
Robinson emerged as the top runner late in the season though Peyton Barber topped 1,000 yards. Malzahn did not elaborate on the reasons for his dismissal, but it leaves sophomore Kerryon Johnson as the only returning back who logged a carry last season. Fullback Kamryn Pettway has moved to tailback, and Johnson is joined by freshman Kam Martin, a late addition who was released from his scholarship with Baylor.
“We’ve been one of the better rushing teams in our league, I guess, for six years and we’ll continue to be that,” Malzahn said.
They’re going to need to be strong on the ground again with no established quarterback and having to replace two of the top three players in an already-thin receiving corps.
Defensively, the line is well-stocked with highly rated recruits, including tackle Montravius Adams and end Carl Lawson, who has star potential but has battled injury problems. Guards Alex Kozan and Braden Smith anchor the offense.
Graduate transfer T.J. Neal, who started 25 games for Illinois the past two seasons, joins Tre’ Williams at line- backer. Safety Rudy Ford has led the Tigers in tackles two straight years and cornerback Carlton Davis had a promising freshman season.
SEASON OPENER
Opening with national runner-up Clemson and quarterback Deshaun Watson, a Heisman Trophy finalist, is a huge challenge for a team trying to rebuild in a number of areas. The good news is it’s the first of five straight home games.
WHO’S THE QB?
Junior college transfer John Franklin III is trying to challenge Johnson and White, who both had uninspiring stints as the starter last season. Franklin is the biggest running threat, but never won the starting job at either Florida State or junior college and has little experience. Multiple receivers from a strong signing class at the position will also have to step up in the passing game.
STEELE’S DEFENSE
Kevin Steele is the team’s third defensive coordinator in as many years and fourth in five seasons. The veteran former LSU, Clemson and Alabama coordinator is one of five new assistants on Malzahn’s staff.
PREDICTION
The Tigers have been at their best when outsiders aren’t expecting much from them _ and at their worst when they’re drawing loads of preseason buzz. After two straight disappointing seasons, they fall in the former category now while picked toward the bottom of the SEC West. There are a few games that seem like toss-ups, but 7-5 seems like a reasonable outcome. To blow past that win total would require improved quarterback play from last season and strides from the defense, plus the emergence of Kerryon Johnson or another tailback as a reliable go-to runner.
In preseason news from Auburn:
Auburn dismisses top running back Jovon Robinson AUBURN, Ala.
— Auburn’s depleted backfield took another blow when coach Gus Malzahn dismissed top running back Jovon Robinson from the team.
Malzahn said he kicked off Robinson, the team’s top returning rusher, on Wednesday before the Tigers’ first practice of preseason camp.
“He did not meet my standards or expectations of what it takes to be an Auburn Tiger football player,” the coach said. “We’re going to have zero distractions on this team this year. I’ve given him his release and we wish him the best.”
Robinson came on strong late last season and ran for 639 yards and three touchdowns. Leading rusher Peyton Barber left early to enter the NFL draft, and No. 3 runner Roc Thomas transferred to FCS Jacksonville State. Barber went undrafted.
The Tigers, who open Sept. 3 against defending ACC champion Clemson, added former Baylor signee Kam Martin this summer after he was granted a release from his scholarship.
Kerryon Johnson is now the most established back on the team after running for 208 yards while also returning kicks as a freshman. Johnson missed virtually all of spring practice recovering from shoulder surgery.
“We’re very confident in him,” Malzahn said. “He’s put on about 20 pounds. He’s a guy that we’ve recruited to be a marquee back. He’s got a great opportunity now. He’s in a good spot. (Converted fullback Kamryn) Pettway is in a good spot too.”
Receiver Marcus Davis said the team learned about Malzahn’s decision before practice.
“Jovon is a great guy, great teammate and everything but we just focus on what’s best for the team,” Davis said. “It’s nothing I really sat down and thought about yet, but at the same time if coach Malzahn thinks it’s the best thing for the team, I’m pretty sure everybody’s going to be on board with that.”
Robinson had signed with Auburn in 2012 but was ruled ineligible after a guidance counselor admitted to creating a fake transcript. He transferred to Georgia Military College and was the 2013 NJCAA national player of the year.
He set junior college records for a season in rushing yards (2,387), touchdowns (34) and points scored (204).
“We all support Coach’s decision,” offensive tackle Austin Golson said. “No one player is going to be able to take down our team. I believe that we’re going to respond well and just keep practicing. We have plenty of other options that will be able to help us out. I think we’re all going to be fine.”
Last season, Auburn opened camp with star wide receiver D’haquille Williams suspended. He never got going during the season and was dismissed after a bar fight while the preseason Southeastern Conference favorites were on their way to a 7-6 season.
Robinson’s dismissal changed the biggest story at the start of camp from the threeman quarterback competition among 2015 starters Jeremy Johnson and Sean White and junior college transfer John Franklin III. Both Johnson and White struggled much of last season.
“We’re going to rotate each day who’s going to be out there first,” Malzahn said. “We’re going to have equal reps. We have a good plan for putting them in competitive situations every practice. We will chart everything. We’re hoping we can name a guy sooner rather than later but we’ll give everybody an equal shot.”
Stove flashes potential in first scrimmage
Auburn recruited Eli Stove for his explosive ability, and the true freshman was as good as advertised when given opportunities Tuesday morning.
The 6-foot, 177-pound- er from Niceville, Florida, wowed his coaches and fellow Tigers with a pair of one-handed grabs during the team’s first scrimmage of fall camp at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
The scrimmage was closed to the media, but according to senior receiver Tony Stevens, one of Stove’s catches was good for about 50 yards and came off the arm of walk-on quarterback Devin Adams. Stove nearly reached the end zone on the play, but was stopped at the 1-yard line, Stevens said.
“Eli Stove got a couple of chances down the field,” Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn said. “Made one good catch that really stood out. We were trying to give those young guys chances right there to show what they can do.”
Junior defensive back Stephen Roberts has been impressed with Stove’s speed and fearlessness thus far in camp.
“Oh yeah, Eli, that’s a quick guy,” Roberts said. “He got great ability for the ball. He don’t mind jumping for it, and if he gets hurt he’ll get right back up. That’s a tough guy. Our coach preaches about it all the time, just being tough and physical. That’s what it’s about.”
Stove reminds Stevens of sophomore receiver Ryan Davis, who is considered to be one the fastest players on Auburn’s 2016 roster.
“Everything’s very fast, very fast,” Stevens said when asked about Stove. “He made a big play today. So I’m very impressed with mostly all of the incoming freshman that came in.”
Stove is one of four elite receivers Auburn signed in February — the others being Nate Craig-Myers, Kyle Davis and Marquis McClain. Davis is the only one who enrolled in January, but he’s been limited since his arrival due to shoulder and foot injuries.
“All those receivers will have a chance to help us this year,” Malzahn said. “We do know that, just from a talent standpoint. Today’s really good just to see them in a big picture and how they’re going to react. I think some of those young guys played with the twos also, just to try to give them a better chance within the offense and some with the three quarterbacks also.”
In his prep career at Niceville High, Stove caught 136 passes for 1,878 yards and 22 touchdowns. As a senior last fall he racked up 978 allpurpose yards with 11 touchdowns. He was an Under Armour All-American and was ranked as the nation’s No. 20 receiver in the 247Sports Composite. — Wesley Sinor of AL.com contributed to this report.